From Our Correspondent
TURA, April 26: Social activist Cherian Momin has called for an administrative review and legal cognisance into what he called the questionable appointment of Esther Ngurlienmoi Marak as a Garo candidate into the Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) cadre.
Maintaining that he held no personal animosity or political motives, Momin said his actions were guided by a commitment to safeguarding constitutional values, customary laws and the spirit of ST reservation. “After reviewing genealogical records, oral testimonies and established tradition, the elders of the Maji Mahari have declared that Esther’s claim to the Maji Mahari—and by extension, her Garo tribal status—is factually untenable and customarily invalid,” stated Momin.
Earlier, the Mahari to which the MCS officer claimed affiliation had also asserted that she had no links with their clan.
“It is deeply troubling that, despite this significant public issue and the prima facie evidence provided by the Maji Mahari clan—a legitimate stakeholder in determining Garo identity—no clarification or action has yet been taken by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission or the Department of Social Welfare,” he added.
Highlighting a recent RTI response from the Office of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Momin noted that it failed to verify Esther’s Garo status through proper matrilineal proof or clan affiliation.
He argued that this RTI clarification further substantiates concerns that her inclusion in the MCS results under the Garo quota is legally, morally and customarily inconsistent. “I urge the government to initiate a departmental and legal inquiry into the issuance of Esther’s ST certificate, undertake an independent verification of her genealogical roots in consultation with clan elders and legal tribal authorities, suspend her appointment pending investigation if prima facie evidence of misrepresentation is found and formulate a transparent public protocol for clan verification before issuing ST certificates under matrilineal systems such as the Garos,” he said.
