From Our Correspondent
TURA, May 24: Tura MDC from the BJP, Bernard Marak, has once again raised questions over the agreement to pay tax consultant for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), Sumit Jain Bohra, an honorarium of Rs 2 lakh per month through a decision that was apparently taken on April 26 this year.
Bernard, through a complaint to the Secretary of the GHADC, stated that he felt constrained to write regarding the agreement to pay a consultancy fee of Rs 6.8 crores (out of Rs 8 crores as per the MoU) through E-Mandate EMIs.
“Further, the Committee has resolved to bear approximately Rs 60 lakh as security deposit for filing an appeal before the Appellate Court of CGST, Rs 60 lakh as retainer fees for completion of stages of appeal and Rs 2 lakh per month as honorarium for consultancy and advisory services from November 2025 until completion of the case,” said Marak in his complaint.
The complaint was filed on May 15.
He added that the minutes also recorded that, should the Appellate Court of CGST direct deposit of additional amounts or the full TDS liability of approximately Rs 2.87 crores along with fines, penalties or interest, the matter shall be taken up accordingly. To avoid lapses in payments, the Committee has further decided to avail a loan of Rs 4 crore under the agreement.
“I had earlier lodged a complaint against Bohra, a resident of my constituency, who has not applied for a Trading by Non-Tribal (TNT) licence, which is mandatory and required to be recommended by me. It is therefore inexplicable that GHADC should pay him an honorarium of Rs 2 lakh per month—an amount exceeding the salary of both yourself (Secretary) and the CEM—when he is merely a Class X pass and lacks TNT and other credentials,” alleged Bernard.
Stating that the GHADC continued to face financial constraints, with salaries being borne by the State under Para 3.1 of the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS), Marak said such funds should not be misused to benefit individuals without proper qualifications or licences.
“Such funds should not be misused to benefit individuals without proper qualification or license. Regularised employees are being targeted under the pretext of financial crunch, yet the above decision reflects otherwise,” asserted Marak.
Through his complaint, the Tura MDC sought a copy of Jain’s TNT licence, details of his educational and professional qualifications, details of payments already made to him as well as the current status of the GST appeal case for which such large sums are being disbursed.
He also sought the details within a week of filing his complaint.
“The GST issue arose due to non-deduction of TDS from NPP contractors on works allotted by GHADC from central government funds under the ATS signed with ANVC groups in 2014. Paras 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6 of the ATS deal with financial matters; however, the decision of the Executive Committee to incur liabilities and loans is beyond the constitutional capacity of GHADC,” asserted Bernard.
