Meghalaya Speaker to examine demand for removal of NPP MLA

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 5, 2021

Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh on Saturday said he would examine the demand for removal of NPP legislator from North Tura Thomas Sangma after he was alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman.  

Speaking to media persons, Lyngdoh informed that he has received a letter seeking the removal of the legislator as member of the Assembly’s Public Undertaking Committee and Public Accounts Committee. “I am examining the matter,” he said.

On the other hand, the Speaker said that he is not in a hurry to take any decision on the matter.

“I feel that I should not rush in taking a decision keeping in mind the nature of the case which has been filed. As you all are aware today we have seen that the complainant (has expressed that she) would like to withdraw the FIR (against the MLA),” he said.

“But since the government has forwarded the case to the court, the court will look into it and see what needs to be done in the days to come,” Lyngdoh added.

On June 2, Chairperson of the Assembly Committee for Empowerment of Women, Ampareen Lyngdoh, requested the Speaker to remove Thomas Sangma from the different Assembly panels.  

“…I urge you to follow the principles of fairness and accountability in the removal of the concerned member as Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Estimates and as member of the Committee on Public Accounts until the police investigation and trial (if any) are complete,” she had stated in her letter to the Speaker.

She had also cited that there is precedent in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly for removal of members from Assembly Committees, as in the case of Julius Dorphang who was removed from Committees in 2017 by the Speaker AT Mondal after an FIR for sexual assault was registered.

Thomas Sangma is also currently the chief adviser to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.