Nagaland Lokayukta investigating 83 cases across departments

More than INR 1 cr. recovered from closed cases; disciplinary action on 6 officials

KOHIMA — The Nagaland Lokayukta was investigating at least 83 cases involving various government departments as of December 22, 2023, according to the fifth annual report of the anti-corruption ombudsman.

The report, tabled in the recently concluded Nagaland Assembly session, revealed that the Public Works department faced the highest number of cases at 13, followed by the School Education department with 10.

Both the Planning and Transformation department and unspecified “various departments” were facing eight cases each.

The Lokayukta was investigating six cases related to the Tribal Affairs department while both the Police and Rural Development departments had four cases each.

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Other departments under investigation included the General Administration (districts), Health and Family Welfare, and Land Resources departments with three cases each, while two cases were open against each of the following departments: Disaster Management (Home), Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Municipal Affairs/ Urban Development, Water Conservation, Taxes, and Water Resources (Irrigation and Flood Control).

The Lokayukta was also investigating single cases against the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, DUDA, Employment Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Food and Civil Supplies, Industries and Commerce, Land Records and Survey, Technical Education, Public Health Engineering, and Tourism departments.

As per the report, the Nagaland Lokayukta began its reporting period with 105 cases brought forward from the previous year. This included 81 preliminary enquiries (PE) and 24 regular criminal cases (RC).

Between December 2022 and December 31, 2023, the Lokayukta registered 27 new cases, bringing the total number under investigation to 132. This total comprised 108 preliminary enquiries and 24 regular criminal cases. During this same period, the Lokayukta disposed of 43 cases.

As of December 22, 2023, eight cases were either under trial or awaiting final report submission in the Special Court of the Nagaland Lokayukta.

Furthermore, the investigations have resulted in the recovery of INR 1,20,57,163 from closed cases. Disciplinary action has been taken against six government officials, with five receiving administrative warnings and one facing penalties.

Recommendations from the Lokayukta have been accepted by five departments: School Education, Home (NSDMA), Health & Family Welfare, Works & Housing, and Finance. Additionally, an incomplete and abandoned Public Health Engineering project was completed following the Lokayukta’s intervention, it said.