ACAUT condemns service extension of Nagaland DGP, urges top cop to retire gracefully

Dimapur, Sep. 16 (EMN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has condemned the service extension of the incumbent Director General of Police (DGP) of Nagaland, T John Longkumer and accused the state government of flouting the UPSC service guidelines.

In a press release, the ACAUT asked why the state government had to extend the tenure of the DGP, a Chhattisgarh cadre, when the UPSC had clearly mentioned in its letter dated April 1, 2022, to the government that ‘only officers of  Nagaland cadre are required to be included in the eligibility list’ for the post.

While stating that it is not aware if the state government had responded to the letter of the UPSC, it said the government had written to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking extension of the police officer’s tenure for another six months, which the latter had “conveyed the approval of Appointments Committee of the cabinet extension of service as well as extension of inter-cadre deputation”. 

On this, the ACAUT argued that the MHA only mentioned inter-cadre deputation and not in the capacity as DGP-cum-head of police force, as it would be in “contravention to the UPSC service rules guidelines”, and hence termed the service extension of the incumbent DGP as “illegal” which will receive legal backlash.

Stating that the speculations about the government’s ploy “to weaponise the police forces for the upcoming general elections” may not be far-fetched, it said it ‘will fight tooth and nail against such activities’.

The ACAUT also urged Longkumer not to tarnish his image in the twilight of an illustrious career but ‘retire gracefully and uphold the dignity of the respectable police forces by not becoming an instrument of the politicians’. It went on to say that the entanglement of police in politics will demoralise the whole forces.