Four appointed by ex-Meghalaya guv sacked by Raj Bhavan

Three women workers and a private secretary, appointed personally by former Governor V Shanmuganathan in Meghalaya, were today sacked after their services were found to be in variance with norms, Raj Bhavan officials said here.
The four - a cook from Chennai, a private secretary from Lucknow, his personal assistant from Assam and local public relation officer - were sacked, Raj Bhavan Secretary H Shangpliang told PTI.
He said the contractual services of these people appointed by Shanmuganathan are co-terminus with the term of the governor.
Shanmuganathan was forced to resign on January 26 after a section of Raj Bhavan staff shot a complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi complaining about the former's role in comprising with the dignity of the highest office in the state by turning it into a "young ladies' club".

During his tenure from May last year, Shanmuganathan had appointed three women and a person from Lucknow, as recommended by his close political aide, a Raj Bhavan employee told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The employee alleged that interviews for these job seekers were also conducted by the Governor himself and at odd hours.

Women activists in the state have now demanded an inquiry into the whole episode resulting in the Raj Bhavan scandal.
"We now need a speedy and decisive inquiry to be initiated which should lead to prosecution," said Angela Rangad, Convenor of Thma u Rangli (TUR) a progressive people's group in the state.

"Now that he is not the Governor anymore, Article 361 is not operational, and we do not need prior sanction from the President (for his prosecution)," she said.
"It should not be that now he tendered his resignation and that is the end of it. Only this (prosecution) will send out the right message that nobody in any high office can get away with abusing their power," she added.
President Pranab Mukherjee had yesterday accepted the resignation of former Governor V Shanmuganathan and gave charge of the office to Assam Governor B Purohit.