By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 27: The KHNAM has raised serious concern over the alleged continued participation of a blacklisted Assam-based firm in government tenders and has urged the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to take immediate and decisive action.
In a statement issued on Monday, KHNAM Working President Thomas Passah said the company, identified as North East Security Service (NESS), had been blacklisted by the council for violating provisions of the Trading by Non-Tribal Regulation, 1954.
Citing statements made by the Chief Executive Member (CEM), Winston Tony Lyngdoh, Passah said the council had earlier clarified that the firm was barred from operating after being found guilty of breaching regulations governing trading activities by non-tribal entities within the KHADC’s jurisdiction.
He pointed out that the firm’s trading licence for contract work at Kendra Vidyalaya (KV), Laitkor, has already been cancelled.
However, the KHNAM working president alleged that despite the blacklisting, the company continues to participate in tenders floated by various government departments.
“We have received reliable information that the firm is still actively taking part in tenders and has even reportedly secured a contract at KV Laitkor,” Passah said.
Describing the development as alarming, he said such instances raise serious questions about the enforcement of regulations and the effectiveness of the blacklisting mechanism.
Passah said that the issue has been brought to the notice of the KHADC. “We expect the EM to take immediate and appropriate action to ensure that the blacklisting order is strictly implemented,” he said.
The organisation cautioned that allowing a blacklisted firm to continue securing government work would undermine the credibility of regulatory systems and set a dangerous precedent. It also called for stricter monitoring to ensure that such firms are effectively barred from participating in tenders, while urging authorities to maintain transparency and accountability.
Earlier, KHADC chief Lyngdoh had announced the decision to blacklist NESS, a private security agency from Assam, for allegedly using fraudulent means to secure a contract at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Sohra.
According to Lyngdoh, the firm had misused a trading licence issued to provide security services at KV Laitkor to obtain a tender at NIT Sohra, in violation of council rules mandating location and project-specific licences.
“The agency uploaded the KV Laitkor certificate on the NIT portal to falsely claim it had a valid licence. This amounts to cheating,” Lyngdoh had said.
The KHADC had also decided not to issue any trading licences to NESS and to cancel its existing licence for KV Laitkor with immediate effect.
“If such agencies are allowed to continue, it will encourage similar fraudulent practices elsewhere. This cannot be permitted within the council’s jurisdiction,” Lyngdoh had stated.
