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NGOs demand removal of Julius Dorphang from House panels

By Staff Correspondent

SHILLONG, July 13 - NGOs have demanded the immediate removal of jailed legislator, Julius Dorphang from two Meghalaya Assembly Committees.

The NGOs, Civil Society Women�s Organisation and others have submitted a memorandum to Speaker Abu Taher Mondal in this regard.

Dorphang is lodged in Nongpoh jail. He is accused of raping a minor and has been booked under POCSO Act. However, his name features as member in two Committees of Meghalaya Assembly � Privileges Committee and Committee on Subordinate Legislations.

Stating that nomination of Dorphang in these two Committees is an affront to the spirit of the POSCO Act, the NGOs said, such �insensitive and ill-conceived decisions� by public representatives �promote a culture of vigilantism.�

�Such decisions by public representatives who are sworn to uphold constitutional guarantees of safety and security of all citizens, particularly women and children, leads to a loss of faith in the system.�

The NGOs said that the �nomination of a child rape accused� to the House Committee sends out the message that offenders and perpetrators will be accommodated and further promote such heinous crime.

�This is not only demoralising for women and children, who have been victims of sexual crimes, but it is also an insult to all women and children in the State,� the NGOs said. The NGOs, therefore, urged the Speaker to immediately remove Dorphang from the two committees.

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