Dimapur, September 23 (MExN): The People for Democratic Rights (PDR) today leveled allegations of nepotism and irregular appointments at the Nagaland State Department of Tourism.
A press release from the PDR accused two officers in the department of indulging in “irregular appointments” with regard to five posts.
The PDR alleged that all the irregular appointments were made by a former Commissioner Secretary of Tourism, who is now the present Commissioner Secretary of Sericulture; and a former Director of the department. It said that all the appointees happened to be “children of officers in the Tourism Department”.
It stated that the Former Commissioner Secretary of Tourism appointed two of her daughters as a Tourist Officer and Tourist Assistant, while the former director appointed his son as Tourist Officer and the sons of an Assistant Director and a Registrar as Tourist Assistants.
The PDR noted that that “the entry point to the Tourism Department is Tourist Assistant” and thus two of the appointments which were made at the level of Tourist Officers were not only “illegal” but also in direct violation of the service rules.
As such, the appointments bypassed the mandatory P&AR department approval, NPSC clearance and Finance Department clearance, it pointed out.
Meanwhile, the PDR informed that in reply to an RTI filed by the PDR, the “department stated that two files are missing in the Secretariat containing P&AR and Finance approval.” It demanded that appropriate action be initiated in this regard.
The PDR said that the appointments flouted a cabinet memo order dated May 12, 2013 banning all contract and temporary appointment.
The RTI reply further stated that “the department has furnished that there was no appointment made in the year 2016 in the official record.” “However both of the appointments orders mentioned above were issued in 2016 and this indicates that the orders were tampered and backdated,” the PDR said.
This was further corroborated with the AG and Accounts and Treasuries furnishing details that “no pay slip or salary has been drawn since their appointments,” it added.
The PDR stated that the issue will be taken up officially with the Governor and cautioned of legal recourse if the State Government and Vigilance Commission fail to take appropriate action.
