Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) leveled accusations of double standards against the Meghalaya government this Thursday. They claim officials are playing games with transparency. The tension stems from conflicting responses to Right to Information (RTI) requests filed to track tax dollars spent on legal counsel.
Roy Kupar Synrem, president of the HYC, highlighted the inconsistency after the Office of the Commissioner of Excise refused to reveal department-wise legal spending on Advocate General Amit Kumar. That office cited Section 8 of the RTI Act to justify the silence. Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) handed over detailed, year-wise records of fees paid to a local lawyer who serves as their legal adviser.
The council wants answers on why one public authority hides information while another shares it. They demand the government clarify this mismatch and open the books. The HYC insists that voters deserve a clear view of how their money is spent, especially when it concerns high-profile advocates.
Synrem remains firm on the matter of accountability. "Public money demands public accountability," Synrem said. He argued that the government cannot claim to champion transparency while it hides legitimate expenditure records from taxpayers.
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