SHILLONG:
The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) has criticised the Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh for not checking facts pertaining to the presence of Chairperson Phidalia Toi.
The Commission has held an emergency meeting on June 14 in its office, where all members present expressed their shock at the news reports stating the removal of the Chairperson of the Commission by the Minister in charge of Social Welfare Department Paul Lyngdoh.
“This removal announced during a press conference is ultra vires and done in contravention of the tenets of the law, namely, The Meghalaya State Commission for Women Act 2005,” the Commission in a press Statement said.
The Commission further said that the Minister had received inaccurate information which stated “the Chairperson had been absent from 3 out of 4 meetings of the Commission”.
The Commission further said that all the board meetings of the MSCW have been chaired by the Chairperson and the relevant minutes of the meetings and all records thereof are documented and filed in the office of the Commission
The Commission cited Chapter II Section 4 (3) of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women Act 2005 states “….no person shall be removed under this sub-section until that person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.”
“It must be noted that the Chairperson found out of her removal from the Chair via the news channels circulated in social media. She was never given notice of the charges made against
her or an opportunity to be heard, as mandated by the law,” the Commission stated.