SHILLONG: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma affirmed, on Thursday (February 22), that the government’s amendment of the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act in 2021 was pivotal in activating the Lokayukta.
Responding to a resolution put forth by opposition VPP MLA from North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum, Sangma highlighted that prior to the amendment, the Lokayukta remained non-functional due to stringent requirements outlined in the unamended Act.
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“The 2021 amendment addressed this issue by replacing the word ‘and’ with ‘or’ in clause (a) of sub-section 2 of Section 3,” Sangma explained, underscoring the significance of the amendment in enabling the Lokayukta to fulfill its statutory duties.
He further emphasized the necessity of these amendments in light of legal challenges faced during the tenure of the previous Lokayukta chairman, Justice PK Musahary.
Sangma recounted a High Court ruling highlighting the inadequacy of a retired judge alone serving as the Lokayukta chairman.
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Drawing comparisons with other states’ Lokayukta Acts, Sangma noted that the amendment aimed to provide flexibility, aligning Meghalaya’s Lokayukta structure with those of states like Sikkim and Haryana, where the Lokayukta functions as a single-member body.
Acknowledging the High Court’s recognition of the amended provision, Sangma asserted that the Meghalaya Lokayukta was now fully operational, with appointments of key personnel such as the chairperson, secretary, Director of Inquiry, and Director of Prosecution duly made.
With 38 complaint cases registered to date, of which 27 have been resolved and 11 are under investigation, Sangma reassured that the Lokayukta was equipped to handle its responsibilities effectively.
He concluded by affirming the Act’s provisions for future strengthening of the Lokayukta as needed, ensuring its continued efficacy in combating corruption.