From Our Correspondent
TURA, Sep 7: The post Graduate Students Union (PGSU), along with social activist and Adviser to the Confederate of Meghalaya Social Organisations (COMSO), Cherian Momin has moved the Meghalaya Governor in Shillong, demanding the immediate removal of MLA Marthon J Sangma from the Chairmanship of the Mendipathar College’s governing body in North Garo Hills, alleging misuse of office, nepotism, violation of Statutory Recruitment Rules and the subversion of educational governance norms.
According to their complaint which was submitted on Sunday, the MLA’s tenure as the Chairman has been marred by demonstrable instances of conflict of interest, misuse of authority, nepotism, and politicisation of an educational institution. The petition to the Governnor was backed by documentary evidence carefully compiled, of which included an RTI reply, governing body re-constitution letter from the MLA, a plain paper appointment letter and an intimation letter from the SBI communicating the suspension of certain operation of the Mendipathar college’s account.
The complainants informed that the illegal appointment of the MLA’s daughter as a part time Lecturer at the Mendipathar College was the main reason for their demand for his removal.
“As confirmed by the Principal of Mendipathar College in his RTI reply dated 24th July 2025 (Annexure B), the said appointment was not preceded by any meeting of the Governing Body, no resolution was passed, no advertisement was issued inviting applications, and no approval was sought from the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education. Instead, the appointment was effected through a plain-paper letter dated 22nd August 2023 (Annexure C), which bears no official memo number, no countersignature of the competent authority, and no trace of due process,” they claimed.
As per the complaint, the MLA on January 12, 2024 also submitted a proposal to the Director of Higher and Technical Education, seeking reconstitution of the Governing Body of Mendipathar College (AnnexureA).
“In this proposal, he retained himself as President and nominated individuals overtly associated with partisan political affiliations rather than neutral academic or community representatives,” they further claimed.
The complainants went on to further claim that the most alarming revelation that there was a crisis in the governing body was the communication from the State Bank of India which was compelled to suspend certain account operations of Mendipathar College due to conflicting instructions regarding authorized signatories.
Pointing out that all these irregularities as well as the very fact that a financial institution had to intervene in such a manner demonstrated that the internal mechanisms of governance had collapsed, they urged the Governor to order an impartial inquiry, suspend the MLA from Chairmanship, give directions to te education department to re-constitute the governing body as well as to restore financial accountability by ensuring that the College’s accounts are operated strictly in accordance with legal authorization and after due verification by the Department.