Probe into peon’s complaint

Meghalaya chief secretary KS Kropha
Meghalaya chief secretary KS Kropha

By Our Reporter  

SHILLONG, FEB 1: State Chief Secretary KS Kropha on Wednesday informed that an independent inquiry will be instituted to probe the recent allegation of harassment of a young orderly lady peon by the Director of Soil & Water Conservation department.

“There will be a fair and independent inquiry conducted by the institution which has been laid down (as per directions/guidelines of the Supreme Court),” Kropha told reporters on Wednesday.

In her petitions to the Minister in-charge Soil & Water Conservation Ronnie V Lyngdoh and also Principal Secretary RM Mishra last year, the lady employee had alleged that she was deprived of 6-month salary and transferred just because she refused to stay in the resident of the department head, D Langstieh.

She had no option but to join her new posting in the office of Joint Director of Soil & Water Conservation, Research and Training, Conservation Training Institute, Byrnihat (Ri Bhoi).

It was alleged that the director D Langstieh issued the transfer order on November 8, last year, just after a gap of month after the lady employee wrote an official complaint to the minister on October 6, 2016.

“In addition to my duty the officer (Director) wanted me to stay at his residence in night time which is not acceptable to my family members,” she had stated in the letter.

When asked, the chief secretary, who revealed that the matter was yet to be brought to his notice, said the institutional arrangement (Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as laid down by the Apex Court needs to be strengthened and put in place.

“We will work towards that to ensure how these complaints are addressed by formalizing and strengthening the institutions making them more effective,” he said adding that is the only way of ensuring credibility of the system is restored.

Reacting to a query whether all government departments and offices have such internal complaints committee, Kropha said the government will ensure that they are put in place.

Stating that this particular case will also be subjected to inquiry by such ICC, he said that if there is no such committee, it will be formed and constituted.

The chief secretary also said that the job profile of an orderly peon will also have to be verified while informing that such a post is there in the state forest department.

Earlier, the principal secretary RM Mishra on being approached by reporters informed that direction has been given to the Secretary MR Synrem to find out the facts and will accordingly inform the government.

 

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