Shillong: Nongstoin MDC Dr. Juristman Iawphniaw barged into an interview room at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital on Tuesday. He demanded an immediate stop to the Staff Nurse recruitment process. Serious bribery allegations clouded the hiring. Job seekers claim officials demanded cash in exchange for appointments.
The VPP State Youth Wing pushed for this halt. They previously asked the Director of Health Services to defer the interviews scheduled for September 29 and 30. The group alleged one candidate paid 1 lakh rupees of a demanded 4 lakh total. Sixty candidates waited for their turn after finishing a written test at Nongstoin College on September 21.
The youth wing met West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak early Tuesday to demand a suspension. They found the interview already moving forward. Youth wing leader Robert Wahlang said the Deputy Commissioner gave no clear response. The interviews continued regardless of the MDC stepping inside the room. Iawphniaw slammed the situation. He said, "recruitment should not proceed while questions around the allegations remained unresolved."
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 2:15pm
The West Khasi Hills district administration condemned the disruption, stating the MDC entered the room without permission and raised his voice at the selection board. Officials said the outburst caused distress to both the board members and the candidates. After the confrontation, the MDC was escorted to the Deputy Commissioner’s office to air his grievances.
The administration maintained that the hiring is strictly merit-based and warned candidates against paying anyone, noting that no fees are required at any stage. They advised applicants to report any touts claiming to influence the process. Officials promised a transparent, time-bound completion to get the hospital operational and urged anyone with proof of malpractice to submit formal written complaints with supporting evidence.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 6:00pm
The Voice of the People Party broke its silence Wednesday, standing by Dr. Iawphniaw. Party leaders claimed they warned the West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner about alleged irregularities as early as September 17. They argued the physical intervention became a necessity only after their previous warnings went ignored.
The party demanded an independent inquiry, verified audio evidence, and a total freeze on hiring until officials clear the air. They pushed back against the administration's narrative, insisting the focus should remain on the substance of the bribery claims rather than the optics of a disrupted interview room.
Meanwhile, the district administration is reviewing the security breach and weighing legal repercussions for the unauthorized entry. They have vowed to proceed with the hiring process, insisting that the MCH Hospital must open for the public regardless of the ongoing friction.
Updated at 30th September 2026 at 9:49pm
The West Khasi Hills administration ordered a formal inquiry on September 30 into the bribery allegations surrounding the MCH Hospital recruitment. Officials appointed a two-member committee, consisting of Superintendent of Police H. Kharkongor and Assistant Commissioner E. Lyngdoh, to vet the claims of corruption.
District authorities have frozen the recruitment process, confirming that no final selection list will be published until the committee completes its probe and resolves the matter. The administration maintained that further action will hinge on the findings of the inquiry report.
Updated at 1st October 2026 at 1:48pm
The administration's formal inquiry committee includes West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police H. Kharkongor and Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate E. Lyngdoh. Deputy Commissioner Hema Nayak confirmed in a September 30 letter that the probe aims to establish facts while upholding strict meritocracy. Officials explicitly warned that any corruption will face legal consequences once the inquiry report is filed.
The VPP expanded on its stance, demanding four specific actions: an impartial inquiry, verification of audio evidence, a formal review of the warnings submitted on September 17, and a guarantee that hiring stays frozen until public confidence is restored. The party rejected the focus on the alleged disruption, insisting that authorities must address the substance of the bribery claims rather than the optics of the protest.
Updated at 1st October 2026 at 2:02pm
The situation at the district headquarters hit a breaking point on Wednesday. A delegation led by Dr. Iawphniaw faced a tense standoff at the office gate, caught in a brief physical tug-of-war with security personnel and magistrates who initially blocked their entry. The group spent two hours waiting before the confrontation cleared the way for them to meet with the Deputy Commissioner.
Dr. Iawphniaw stated that the delegation arrived to hand over specific evidence, including messages and transaction records, that allegedly link recruitment officials to cash demands from job seekers. He maintained that the party was not seeking a fight but aimed to ensure the administration reviewed the proof of malpractice before proceeding with hiring.
Comments