Dimapur, July 27 (MExN): The Department of Food & Civil Supplies, Government of Nagaland, has responded to the demands of the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) by looking into ‘irregular and anomalous’ appointments in the Department.
In that, the DoF&CS has “rectified and necessary corrigendum issued accordingly” with regard to three (3) LDAs which were appointed in March 10, 2016 on regular basis, reported the Information & Publicity Cell of the NPRAAF today.
“The three appointments have been rectified as contractual appointments subject to their regularization/fresh appointment made through open interview/departmental screening committee,” stated the NPRAAF.
It may be noted that the NPRAAF has taken up the issue of 73 + 3 (76) backdoor appointments; 3 being the above mentioned LDAs and 73 appointments made from January 2003 to November 2015. The Department has reportedly told NPRAAF that it was “seriously examining the issue of 73 appointments taking into consideration the legalities involved and other practical details.” The NPRAAF expressed optimism on this. Appreciating the DoF&CS for “cancelling the appointments” on “regular basis” and rectifying it as “contractual,” the NPRAAF, however, made clear that “fresh appointments or open interview should be held against the three LDA posts on expiry of their contract appointments on March 20, 2017.”
“Regularizing the three appointees through departmental screening committee will amount to another but continued form of backdoor appointment through which the three entered service,” it stated, adding that the Forum will “not allow” any policy of “continuing/regularizing” backdoor appointments.
Meanwhile, the NPRAAF also reminded that the issue of the Director of Food & Civil Supplies reportedly making a phone call to NPRAAF official on May 20, 2016, saying that he took the issue raised by NPRAAF “personally” is “still unresolved since there was no clarification/apology from the Director as demanded by NPRAAF.”
“This particular issue will be clubbed with democratic protest against irregular distribution of PDS to beneficiaries, to be organized by NPRAAF very soon,” the Forum reiterated.
