Mere removal of ‘lal pati and name plates from cars will not benefit the people at all, do away with unnecessary decoration with Rank and Status'
Dimapur, May 2 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today asked the State Government “to suspend or revoke” immediately the appointment orders of party workers with Cabinet or Minister of State status or face legal action.
The ruling People’s Democratic Alliance, on May 1, inducted 13 persons from various political parties into alliance with the rank of Cabinet Minister or MoS.
Coming down heavily on the appointments, the Executive Council meeting of NPRAAF on May 2 passed a resolution that the Forum will take the “matter to any level to protect the constitution and the people” if the orders are not revoked or suspended.
“The Government may take note that taking the matter lightly could affect the appointment of Advisors who were also appointed against the spirit of 91st amendment reportedly in consultation with constitutional experts,” the NPRAAF stated in a press release issued by its Information and Publicity Cell.
In this connection, the Forum appealed the Government to be objective in its governance and get down to business for the welfare of the people.
“The mere slogan of ‘Change is Coming’ or taking down lal pati from the vehicle head and removing name plates from cars will not benefit the people at all,” it argued.
“It is equally important that the Government do away with unnecessary decoration with rank and status of a person to give them false pride and encourage class division among Nagas.”
The NPRAAF further said that when the state is in “deep financial lurch,” such appointments would further burden the state exchequer.
“The action of the Government amounts to hoodwinking the constitutional mandate contained in Article 164 (1A) which was adopted with the view for minimum Government and Maximum Governance,” it said.
The 91st Amendment Act of 2003 which was passed on January 1, 2004 was passed by Parliament with a view to minimize the expenditure on office of profit and the Amendment was major austerity measure which is diluted by the random backdoor appointments of Ministers, it added.
The Forum also reminded the PDA Government regarding the ruling by a bench of the Supreme Court on July 26, 2017 which stated that “Article 194 does not authorize the state legislative to create office of profit even by legislation.”
“The court declared this while giving a ruling to Assam Parliamentary secretaries (Appointment, salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous provision) Act 2004 as unconstitutional,” it noted.
In the case of present appointment, the NPRAAF said that “the office of profit was created even without legislation,”
“When the elected MLAs are bereft of the status and Rank of a Minister it is laughable that several party workers are appointed in the Rank of Cabinet and State Ministers which is an insult to the constitution and the Nagas,” the release further stated.
