Bureaucrat bows before legislators

By Our Reporter

Assembly today witnessed a rare incident where a serving bureaucrat was made to tender an apology before the House and its members for breach of privilege.

Zenithsky J. Sangma, a bureaucrat belonging to the Meghalaya Civil Service (MCS), and who had served as the chief executive officer of the Tura Municipal Board, was found guilty of breaching the privileges of South Tura legislator John Leslee K Sangma after he had filed “concocted” First Information Reports against the legislator in February 2015.

Summoning the serving officer, who was flanked by marshalls, to the bar, Speaker AT Mondal asked Zenithsky to bow down and take an oath of evidence following which the charges against him (Zenithsky) were read out.

“The House has charged you for committing breach of privilege against one of the members, John Leslee K Sangma, which led to breach of privilege and dignity of this House,” Mondal stated.

Quoting Rule 172 from the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, the Speaker said, “In exercise of the powers, I reprimand you for breach of privilege of the member and the august House.”

Mondal also sought to know from Zenithsky if he would tender an apology before the House for his actions.

While tendering his apology, the MCS officer said, “I profoundly and sincerely express my apology to John Leslee K Sangma and to the members of the privilege committee and this House.”

After the apology was tendered, the Speaker wanted to know the sense of the House.

On this, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is also the Leader of the House, said that this was the first incident of its kind which he has come across so far in his political career. However, he said records show that such summoning had taken place in 1972-73.

“Let this very incident be a reason for all concerned to understand the powers with which this House is vested. Let it be a message for all to understand the dignity and honour of this House,” Sangma said.

He also said, “I submit before the House that we drop and do not further proceed with the case (against the officer).”

The Speaker then announced that the charges against Zenithsky were dropped. However, he also asked the officer to bow again before the chair, the treasury and opposition benches before withdrawing him from the House.

Earlier, National People’s Party legislator James K Sangma objected to the summoning of the bureaucrat to the bar.

“I don’t want to go to into the merit or demerit of the case. But I don’t agree with the method of reprimanding that is taking here today,” James said.

However, the Speaker denied accepting any discussion on the matter as he stated that the House had already adopted the report and no debate could be held.

The NPP legislator, who did not want to be a part to the proceedings, later walked out of the House.