Shillong, Aug 16: The state government has spent Rs 19,73,602 on 42 guests from outside the state who took part in the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya S. Vaidyanathan, on February 11 this year.
The chief justice is retiring on August 16.
In reply to RTI query by Meghalaya Monitor, the authorised person of High Court of Meghalaya said the 42 guests included family members/friends of the chief justice, retired high court judges, and advocates of Madras High Court Bar Association.
The guests were staying at Hotel Courtyard Marriot and Hotel Vivanta for 2 to 3 days.
The intention of the information seeker was to know whether the state government can declare and afford 42 persons as state guests as it was not done in the recent past.
The delay in releasing the news report was that the law department had to reply to some additional queries.
To a question as to whether there is any state guest rule governing the officials eligible for accommodation during their visit to Meghalaya, the reply of the law department was that Rule 5 of the Meghalaya State Guest Rules 1991 provides the list regarding the dignitaries who shall be treated as state guests when they visit any part of Meghalaya.
The rule also provides provision for other eminent dignitaries both Indian and foreign, including officials and non-officials who may be declared as state guests by the government in the General Administration Department with the approval of the Chief Secretary or Chief Minister.
To another query, the law department said the matter regarding the visit of guests for the swearing-in ceremony of the chief justice was taken up through file and duly approved by the chief secretary, on file.
The government was ‘generous’ to accommodate the 42 persons as state guests whereas the same reciprocal steps are unlikely to be taken by other states, sources said.
