SHILLONG : The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has strongly criticised the appointment of Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, terming the move arbitrary, non-transparent, and a lavish misuse of public funds.In a statement issued on Thursday, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem alleged that the appointments were being made without transparency or public accountability, while significant amounts of state funds are being spent on salaries, allowances, office infrastructure, vehicles, and other privileges.“The appointments are being made behind closed doors, with huge public money being spent without accountability to the people of the State,” Synrem said.The organisation questioned the credentials and intent behind the appointments, asking who the individuals are, what qualifications they possess, and whose interests they are ultimately serving.HYC asserted that the Chief Minister or the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government cannot treat public funds as personal expenditure. The organisation objected to what it described as unnecessary and excessive spending from the State exchequer on OSDs whose roles, responsibilities, and necessity remain unclear.“Public money is meant for education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and employment generation—not for creating parallel power centres or political convenience,” Synrem stated.The youth body demanded that the Government of Meghalaya immediately disclose complete details of all OSD appointments made to the Chief Minister, including the legal basis, selection process, salaries, allowances, and overall expenditure incurred.HYC also called for an immediate end to what it described as backdoor appointments that bypass established legal norms and procedures, warning that failure to do so would further strengthen public perception of governance driven by patronage and favouritism.Clarifying its position, the organisation stated that it is not opposed to governance, but firmly against unaccountable governance. “Positions created with public money must serve public interest, not political convenience,” Synrem added.The HYC has urged civil society organisations, unemployed youths, students, and concerned citizens to raise their voices against the alleged misuse of public funds and the erosion of transparency in governance. The organisation warned that if public concerns continue to be ignored, it may intensify democratic agitation in the interest of transparency and youth justice.