Shillong: A senior gazetted officer at the Meghalaya Governor’s Secretariat has lodged a formal complaint with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women, alleging a pattern of prolonged workplace harassment and retaliation. The official, who has served the government for 36 years, claims she was denied protections under the PoSH Act and subjected to institutional threats.
In her May 29 submission, the officer detailed how the Governor’s Secretariat functioned for over three years without a legally mandated Internal Complaints Committee. She noted that she filed 24 written complaints to leadership, including Joint Secretary A. Lakiang, between February 2022 and May 2025, but none received an inquiry.
Central to her grievance is a December 2025 transfer order moving her from Shillong to Lok Bhavan, Tura. She contends the transfer was retaliatory and legally flawed, as no sanctioned post existed for her at the new location. She described the posting as an isolated assignment lacking basic infrastructure and oversight, stating, "The establishment was officially renamed Lok Bhavan, Tura only after the order was issued and that no sanctioned post existed there for her."
The officer alleges that reporting these issues resulted in further punitive measures, including the withdrawal of her house peon, pressure to vacate her Shillong residence, and a formal memorandum declaring her absent from duty despite her having sanctioned leave. She also reports experiencing social isolation and a decline in her ailing mother’s health following the withdrawal of support facilities.
The petition calls for an immediate commission inquiry into her 24 complaints, the establishment of a lawful Internal Complaints Committee at Tura, and the reversal of the transfer order. She is also seeking the restoration of her official benefits and the implementation of safety measures for herself and her family.
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