Govt does U turn,staff can now hold office

File pix: Cabinet meeting
File pix: Cabinet meeting

SHILLONG, FEB 5: Caving under pressure, the Congress led state government on Friday approved the Meghalaya Services (Conduct) (Amendment) Rules, 2015 which seeks to direct government servants to furnish information to the government on holding office in community based organization, association, traditional body or society.

According to the new amended rules, faith based organization and clan based organization are excluded from the term – community based organization, association, traditional body or society.

The proposal for amendment of the Meghalaya Services (Conduct) Rules was brought for the second time for the approval of the state cabinet, following increased pressures and protests from several quarters.

Earlier on January 7, the cabinet had approved the amendment of Rule 20 of the Service Conduct Rules which read – “No member of the service cell except with the previous sanction of the government hold office in a community based organization, association, traditional body or society.”

“We have approved the amendment of the Rule 20B of the Meghalaya Service Conduct Rules, 1990,” chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Friday.

He said this was after the personnel department has been tasked to re-examine the matter and came up with an amendment which is articulated in such a way that there is no scope for anybody to misinterpret or misinform on the aim of the government.

Quoting the new approved amendment, Sangma said, “The rule 20B will now be read as – A member of the service who holds office in a community based organization, association, traditional body or society shall furnish information to the government immediately on holding such office.”

“It also says – Provided that any member of the service who is already holding office in a community based organization, association, traditional body or society shall also furnish such information to the government immediately,” he said.

Sangma further informed, “The term “community based organization, association, traditional body or society” shall not include any faith based organization and clan based organization.”

According to him, a fresh notification to this effect will be issued accordingly.

Referring to the earlier amendment on this regard, Sangma said, “There has been no amendment to that effect and anybody is barred or stopped from being part of the organizations whether community based or any organization.”-By Our Reporter

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