SHILLONG, June 30: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Tuesday approved the deletion of Regulation 3(f) of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (Limitation of Functions) Regulations, 1972, claiming it would make government recruitment more transparent, streamlined, and merit-based.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the regulation, which permitted temporary appointments in exceptional circumstances, had led to administrative complications and prolonged ad hoc appointments over the years. The government argued that with dedicated recruitment boards, streamlined processes, and automation of vacancy management now in place, the provision has become redundant. Short-term needs will instead be handled through contractual appointments until regular recruitment is completed.
While the Cabinet described the move as strengthening the “integrity” of the recruitment process and ensuring “greater efficiency and fairness,” concerns remain about the overall transparency of the system. Critics may question whether the complete removal of this long-standing provision adequately safeguards against arbitrary decision-making, especially in genuine emergencies, without clearer public guidelines on how exceptions will now be handled.
In a related decision, the Cabinet approved the rationalisation of the promotional hierarchy under the Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS) Rules, 1975, including the creation of four new Special Secretary posts in Level 22 of the pay scale. The government said this addresses long-pending demands of the Meghalaya Civil Service Association and provides better career progression for officers stalled beyond the Head of Department level.
Additionally, the Cabinet regularised the services of 38 ad hoc employees appointed on or before December 31, 2007, against sanctioned posts. This follows the Supreme Court’s one-time regularisation framework. Notably, the original sanction orders could not be traced, and the government relied on treasury records, salary payments, and departmental certifications for verification.
This regularisation has been presented as part of the government’s effort to resolve long-pending ad hoc cases in a “fair and transparent manner.”
