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Dimapur, Feb. 6 (EMN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has urged the Nagaland Lokayukta to act on what it claimed were illegal appointments made in the state’s Tourism department.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the forum claimed that the Tourism department has ‘flouted service rules for over a period of time in the appointment of tourist officers.’
“The department has been appointing and absorbing 3rd and 4th-grade staff deputed to the department through political pressure, as a result, there is no productivity, the department should appoint tourist officers only who have a degree in Tourism studies through fair NPSC exams,” it stated.
Urging the Lokayukta to take note of the appointment of officers working in Tourism department, the NPRAAF said that the state government is breaking rules rather than following them.
A section officer (S/A) serving under PWD housing was appointed as Tourist Officer (TO) on December 28, 2007, for one year when the election code of conduct was in place between December to February, the forum claimed.
“…again his absorption as Assistant Director Tourism was made on January 2, 2008, as shown in the list of incumbency of Tourist Officer (TO) to up-graded post Assistant Director, within a week, during the time when election code of conduct was in force. “It is illegal to make any appointment according to the people's representation Act, 1951 (Representation of the People Act, 1951).
“Interestingly his appointment was approved by the cabinet on August 5, 2010, even though the appointment letter clearly states that the post shall be recruited through NPSC,” it stated.
Again, the service of another officer was extended by the governor of Nagaland vide notification December 16, 2018; however, his name was released in the incumbency list of tourist officers to the upgraded post of Assistant Director/Sr. Tourist Officer as having appointed and absorbed on June 2, 2006, even though he was a graduate teacher purely sent on deputation for a period of one year as per government notification dated December 28, 2007; and the post was to be recruited through NPSC exams, it stated.
“In another order, a person working as sectional assistant equivalent to peon and another person working as graduate teacher was appointed and absorbed in the department of Tourism as per cabinet approval on August 5, 2010 which was also taken as effective date of appointment even though they were already appointed and absorbed on January 2, 2008 and July 2, 2006 respectively in the rank of Assistant Director.
“In another case, a candidate was appointed and regularised on September 13, 2010 without due sanction from the P&AR government of Nagaland, ‘which is against service rule and therefore illegal’”, it claimed.
According to the forum, it is mandatory to obtain NOC from the parent department before absorption in the service to the department where one is sent on deputation.
“There shall be clearance from the Public & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) department, the government of Nagaland before ultimately getting the candidates absorbed; however all rules were illegally flouted in appointing the Tourist Officers (TO). We wonder if the government departments have to follow the service rules or cabinet rules. The government must follow its own rules instead of going against its own rules,” it stated.
According to the forum, the Lokayukta must also ensure that the ‘illegal act of all concerned must be brought to light and action taken so as to instil transparency and faith in the institution of justice even as it investigate the case of a former IAS officer in charge of Tourism department who was allegedly involved in the corruption case where more questionable appointments were under scanner’.
“The government of Nagaland must also fully cooperate and support the Lokayukta to deliver justice as it is evident in the sequence of development that the cabinet may have been misled to approve the regularisation of illegal appointments,” it stated.