• Says that current DGP lacks ‘requisite experience’ • Recommends former IGP as replacement Morung Express News Dimapur | April 9 Nagaland State Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton, who is also the State Home Minister, apparently does not feel that the state’s top cop, Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma (IPS) is up to the job. The Deputy CM, whose Home Minister portfolio gives him power over the state’s police department, has written a letter to Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh seeking a new Director General of Police (DGP) for Nagaland. The letter, dated March 28, bearing the Home Minister’s letterhead and signature was being circulated on social media on April 9. The reasons cited by Home Minister Patton for his request to replace Sharma included the latter not having completed 30 years of service, and his lack of experience of serving in the state. The state Home department as well as the police headquarters could not be reached for comment. Sources, while not speaking in official capacity, however confirmed that the letter was authentic. “In the interest of public service, I am pleased to bring to your attention the challenges and grievances being faced by the Government of Nagaland particularly the Police administration in this regard due to shortage of IPS Officers of sufficient seniority on the IPS cadre of Nagaland,” the Nagaland Home Minister began in his letter. He informed the Union Home Minister that “as a result of this, the State has been requesting the Government of India for deputation of officers from other cadres to be posted as Director General of Police.” In his letter, the Nagaland Home Minister said that the deputation tenure of the former DGP, L Doungel ended in November 2017 and since the state was due for elections in March 2018, the current charge of DGP was given to Rupin Sharma. Sharma, a Nagaland IPS cadre, had previously been serving as Director General of Police for Prisons before taking over Doungel’s post. Subsequently, Renchamo P Kikon (IPS) took over as DG Prisons. Patton expressed to the Union Home Minister that Sharma’s appointment as Nagaland DGP was only a “stop gap arrangement.” “Actually to become DGP in other States of India, one has to have completed 30 years of service but in the case of Nagaland as a special category, up to 28 years have been considered during the past years,” he pointed out. Patton however noted that the present DGP has “just 26 years of experience in IPS and does not possess the requisite experience necessary for being posted as DGP.” He further stated that Sharma’s “experience of serving in the State is very limited with just about one year as SP of Peren District.” “It is imperative that an officer having sufficient seniority and who is well aware of the local issues is posted as DGP of the State Police,” he added. “In light of the above circumstances,” Patton requested the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider posting an officer of “sufficient seniority from other cadre as DGP Nagaland.” As a replacement, Patton suggested L. Lungriading, an IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre (1990). Lungriading was in Nagaland on deputation before he was repatriated to his home cadre in 2016. The officer had held the post of IGP and also briefly officiated as the DGP in November 2014 before the former DGP LL Doungel took over. If MHA approves what post would Sharma hold? Meanwhile, a question mark remained as to what post Sharma would hold if at all the Deputy CM’s letter gets sanction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. “It does not mean that Rupin Sharma would be transferred, he belongs to Nagaland cadre. If his senior returns, the senior will become DGP,” commented a state police officer. According to the officer, Sharma would revert to holding the post of Director General Prisons, which he held when Doungel was DGP. Stating, “There are two DG posts: Police and Prisons,” the officer viewed “it will be a political call who gets what. Not necessarily demoted.” The officer though expressed reservations on the likelihood of the MHA approving the Deputy CM’s suggestion by stating that new guidelines have been introduced for inter-cadre transfer of senior officers. Another officer disagreed on this. According to the officer, recommendations put up by state governments in connection to appointment of police chiefs often get the MHA’s approval.
