3930 backdoor appointments in Home Dept; CSU serves 10-day ultimatum

Our Correspondent KOHIMA, NOVEMBER 4 In a shocking disclosure today, the Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU) has revealed with relevant data acquired through RTI that a total of 3930 backdoor appointments were detected to have been made in the state’s Home Department from 2010 till date. The student body informed that it had filed RTI under RTI Act 2005 on August 20 last in the department for the year 2010 till date, and the APIO response indicated rampant practices of appointment that is taking place in the department that enforces law and commands high respect of the citizens. The CSU today submitted a representation to the Chief Minister TR Zeliang on November 4, apprising him of the existing illicit practice and urged for immediate intervention and revoke all the illegal appointments made in the Home Department, within a period of 10 days in the interest of the public. In the event of failure on the part of the state government to redress the issue within the stipulated time, the union has warned that it will take recourse for legal action. It has been learnt that the CSU has the backing of a number of several top lawyers who are deeply concerned over the future of the Naga youth as the state has extensive practice of corruption and nepotism. The CSU representation, a copy of which has been made available to the media with relevant documents, pointed out the manner in which the various categories of posts in the department were advertised and appointed. The union stated that out of a total number of 106 ABSIs appointed from 01/01/2010 till date, except for 11 appointees, the rest have all been appointed through backdoor (direct appointment). As for UBSI, only 9 out of 81 were appointed through competitive exam while the rest 72 were drawn through backdoor appointment. As for the 70 ASIs appointed from 01/01/2010 till date, only 6 were appointed through proper competitive exam and 64 others apparently through backdoor. For the post of Havildar/THC, all the appointments numbering 74 have been illegally appointed, alleges CSU. On the appointments made for the post of Constable, the CSU informed that no advertisements were carried out and a whooping number of 3551 personnel were appointed through backdoor. As for the ministerial staff/medical staff (district)/LDA posts, the data provided by the department APIO indicate that out of 75 (58+17) directly appointed, only one got appointed by standard norms. From the documents which were furnished to the union, it says that except for one advertisement No. PHQ(B-I)I/24/2011 dated Kohima, the 11th August, 2011 whereby 32 posts of ABSI (male-14), UBSI (male-8), UBSI (female-3) and ASI (male-7) were made, the rest of the posts have not carried any advertisement or publication in any manner “flouting all norms and procedures”. “It is pertinent to mention that as per the Article 16 of the Constitution of India, equal opportunity for all citizens in matters of public employment is provided…. However, the department has failed to apply this yardstick and had gone ahead to make such backdoor appointments without observing due process of law,” the CSU stated, further alleging that in doing so, meritorious and deserving candidates have been deprived of their rights and opportunities creating disparity and inconsistency in public employment. The union also cited a recent Supreme Court judgement in regard to appointment/employment without advertisement, which partly states, “It is a settled legal proposition that no person can be appointed even on temporary or ad hoc basis without inviting applications from all eligible candidates. If any appointment is made by merely inviting names from the employment exchange or putting a note on the notice board etc. that will not meet the requirement of the Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution……. The equality clause enshrined in Article 16 requires that every such appointment be made by an open advertisement as to enable all eligible persons to compete on merit.” The CSU also brought to the notice of the Chief Minister its press statement published in the local media on August 11 regarding backdoor appointment of 259 posts made in the months of April and May 2015. The union lamented that there has been no response from the concerned department or the state government. While placing the present case of irregularities in appointment in the Home Department, the CSU points out that there are innumerable cases in all other departments which has become a “common practice”, creating an environment of malpractice and “encouraging corruption”. It informed that data of other departments are also being collected and the union will place it before the Chief Minister’s office in due course of time. “It has been a cry of the public for a transparent and corruption-free state for a long time now while also acknowledging and highly appreciating the call to combat corruption by the Governor and your good self while observing the countrywide Vigilance Awareness Week in local dailies,” the CSU primly asked for the Chief Minister TR Zeliang’s intervention and revoke all the illegal appointments made in the Home Department within a period of ten days.