Shillong, Sept 20: Two NGOs of the state on Wednesday asked the government not to grant voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to a senior government officer, H.M. Shangpliang who was alleged of indulging in political activities while in service.

They also demanded an independent inquiry into the matter.

The Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) and Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) have made this demand in a letter submitted to the Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT), Central government and chief secretary, Y Tsering ,

“We urge you to institute an independent inquiry and to do the needful in the interest of constitutional propriety,” Leaders of CSWO and TUR Agnes Kharshiing and Angela Rangad respectively said in the letter.

“We urge you to ensure that he is not rewarded for his illegal action by way of being granted VRS but that he should be summarily suspended and eventually dismissed from service and all his benefits withdrawn,” they added.

It may be mentioned here, HM Shangpliang, who is holding different positions in the government departments, had recently applied for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) but the same is yet to be considered by the state government.

In the letter, the two NGO leaders had alleged Shanphliang has been found to have abused his official position in order to promote himself as a potential electoral candidate for the constituency of Mawsynram for the upcoming 2018 state elections.

“His activities have been repeatedly reported in the media and a video of him addressing a Congress meeting in Mawsynram was circulated in social media and reported in the local press,” Kharshiing and Rangad said.

They further alleged that his application for VRS was following the complaint lodged by them with the state government.

“It (VRS) is circumstantial evidence that clearly points to the fact that he had and has intentions to contest the upcoming elections,” they stated.

According to them, his actions of abusing and misusing his powers which includes bias in allocation of public resources to this constituency need to be further examined.