Meghalaya speaker disallows censure motion against ministers

Meghalaya assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal Tuesday disallowed a censure motion moved by the opposition against two ministers - Ampareen Lyngdoh and Deborah Marak - for continuing in office despite a criminal investigation being launched against them.

"It will not be appropriate to discuss the subject matter of the censure motion which is subjudice and it does not merit to be admitted," Mondal said.

Congress leader and Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak has been charge-sheeted by police for hatching a criminal conspiracy with terrorist outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) to win the February 2013 assembly elections.

Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has been implicated by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the illegal appointment of school teachers allegedly by tampering the mark-sheets of eligible candidates during her tenure as education minister.

"Discussion on matters pending adjudication before courts of law should be avoided on the floor of the house, so that the court's functions is uninfluenced by anything said outside the ambit of trial," Mondal said.

Mondal informed the assembly that on examination, he found the case of Marak was pending before the court of the chief judicial magistrate, and the case on which Lyngdoh was framed was pending before the Supreme Court and the Meghalaya High Court.