Shillong: A prominent tribal rights body, the A’chik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK), has issued a firm demand to the Meghalaya government, urging the appointment of a Garo individual as the next Chairman of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC). The organization has cautioned of widespread protests across the state if their appeal is not heeded.
In a formal petition addressed to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, ACHIK asserted that the forthcoming appointment should adhere to a perceived long-standing rotational practice between Meghalaya’s primary indigenous communities. The tribal body emphasized the importance of upholding this tradition to maintain equitable representation within the state’s key institutions.
“We unequivocally insist that the succeeding Chairman of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission must be a Garo candidate, aligning with the established rotational principle and reinstating the appropriate equilibrium,” ACHIK articulated in their submitted statement. The organization further warned, “Should this legitimate demand be overlooked, we will be left with no alternative but to initiate statewide demonstrations and pursue legal avenues to ensure our voice is heard.”
ACHIK underpinned their demand by referencing the Meghalaya State Reservation Policy of 1972, which mandates a 40% reservation each for the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities in state employment. The tribal rights group contends that the chairmanship of the MPSC has historically alternated between members of these two significant indigenous groups, a practice they believe should continue.
The petition also drew attention to an April 2022 directive from the Meghalaya High Court, which underscored the necessity of a clear and transparent roster system in the implementation of reservation policies. ACHIK argued that “appointing yet another Chairman from the same community would contravene both the explicit provisions and the underlying intent of the Reservation Policy, as well as the explicit instructions of the High Court.”
This contentious issue has emerged following the recent interim appointment of Badarius Shylla as chairperson in-charge of the MPSC, alongside the induction of three members: Aloysius Ch Marak, Lester Pathaw, and Sanjive K Marak. The ultimate decision regarding the permanent chairmanship will be made by a committee designated by the state government, setting the stage for a potentially significant point of contention.
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