Shillong, Oct 22: A showcause notice issued to an officer regarding professional tax under Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has faced strong criticism from the opposition in the Counci.
The opposition on Wednesday slammed the Voice of the People Party (VPP)-led executive committee (EC) for allegedly tarnishing the image of the officer by making public the showcause notice.
Leader of Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne while participating in a debate on a question raised by Mawshynrut MDC S Rashir, expressed surprise over the showcause notice being made public, asking if the notices issued by the superintendent of professional tax asking traders to pay their taxes were illegal?
Chyne expressed concern that the EC’s actions may have created a culture of fear among officers, making them hesitant to work.
Chyne alleged that the EC’s reaction was prompted by allegations on social media, and that they were ready to victimize an officer just because of these allegations.
Strongly criticizing the EC, NPP MDC from Nongshken, Grace Mary Kharpuri termed it an unprecedented act in the history of the KHADC.
Kharpuri explained that issuing notices is a part of the procedure and does not necessarily mean that traders will have to pay professional taxes.
Kharpuri condemned the decision to make the showcause notice public, stating that it is a violation of the officer’s private rights and is defamatory.
In his reply, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Winston Tony Lyngdoh clarified that he had stated in the media that the issuing of notices for payment of professional taxes was done without the knowledge of the EC.
Lyngdoh said that the EC had already decided that it would serve a showcause notice if it found that staff and officers were involved in issuing the notices without their knowledge.
Lyngdoh urged the members to allow the EC to examine the officer’s reply and assured that they would take necessary action if required.
Earlier in his reply, Executive Member (EM) in-charge of Taxation, Seibor Warbah stated that the decision of CEM to call for an explanation from the officer was aimed at streamlining and preventing confusion in the minds of the public.
Warbah explained that despite an order to revoke the issuance of notices to small-time shopkeepers, the notices were still issued, prompting the EC to take action.
He added that issuing showcause notices was necessary to streamline things and improve the working conditions.
“It is a wake-up call to improve the working condition. If you accept or not, whatever happened has happened. We need to issue showcause notices to streamline things,” Warbah stated.
