Shillong, Oct 22: The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has condemned the Meghalaya government’s glaring double standards on transparency and accountability.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Roy Kupar Synrem, president of HYC said that the RTI replies reveal that while the Office of the Commissioner of Excise refuses to disclose department-wise legal expenditure involving Amit Kumar, citing Section 8 of the RTI Act, the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation readily provides year-wise details of legal fees paid to its legal adviser involving a local lawyer from the State.
Synrem questioned as to why is transparency possible for one lawyer but becomes an excuse-ridden exercise when information involves Advocate General Amit Kumar? Is the Government applying different rules to different lawyers?
“When crores of public money are involved, citizens deserve answers-not selective disclosure and legal provisions used to shut down legitimate questions. The government must explain this inconsistency and disclose public expenditure in accordance with the law”, Synrem added.
