Meghalaya Bans Political Felicitation Ceremonies at Official Events

Shillong: The Meghalaya government officially banned felicitation ceremonies for the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, ministers, and other state dignitaries at all government events. The Personnel and A.R. (A) Department issued the directive on July 29. It takes effect immediately. The order forces administrative departments to drop the tradition of honoring state leaders during public programs.

Isawanda Laloo, Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, signed the circular. The state now requires strict compliance from all departments. The order does provide a specific loophole. Programs hosting a Union minister or a foreign dignitary remain exempt from the new policy.

Officials must now pivot their attention to local citizens. The government instructed departments to honor two or three members of the public at these functions instead of politicians. "Henceforth, all administrative departments may instead felicitate two or three representatives from the public at such programmes and, if deemed fit, they may be given an opportunity to speak briefly during the function," the order stated. These public representatives may receive time at the microphone to address the crowd.