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Dimapur, November 10 (MExN): A group of RTI activists has written to the Governor of Nagaland seeking verification and action over what they allege are irregular appointments and promotions to the post of Director in various government departments, particularly the Department of Tribal Affairs.
In a representation submitted to Raj Bhavan, the activists stated that information obtained through the Right to Information Act, 2005, revealed that the present Director of the Department of Tribal Affairs was not appointed through a prescribed competitive examination. They further claimed that the appointment appears inconsistent with Office Memorandum dated August 29, 2019, issued by the Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department.
The representation requested clarification on “whether she is lawfully holding the post of Director.”
According to documents enclosed with the letter, the activists said that RTI replies from Nagaland University and the Department of Tribal Affairs show several inconsistencies in the service record of the officer.
Citing an RTI reply from NU, dated October 17, 2025, the activists said that the present Director was initially appointed as Deputy Co-ordinator in the Centre for Mass Communication, NU, on May 19, 2005, on a fixed pay basis. However, when details such as advertisement number, list of applicants, and copies of newspaper notifications were sought, the Central Public Information Officer of the University responded that the records were “not available.”
The activists stated that she was later appointed as Lecturer on August 17, 2007, based on the recommendation of the Selection Committee and approval of the Executive Council for a temporary period of two years. Subsequently, on September 7, 2007, she was again appointed as Lecturer based on a resolution of the 14th Executive Council meeting held earlier on July 27, 2007.
The representation further noted that on November 16, 2011, she was selected as Officer on Special Duty (Skill Development), Class-I (Gazetted) under the Planning & Coordination Department on a two-year deputation basis. Following several postings and transfers, she was promoted from Additional Director to Director under the Department of Tribal Affairs on August 1, 2023.
On the contrary, they said that the officer did not meet the criteria to hold the post of Director as specified in a P&AR Office Memorandum dated August 29, 2019. As opposed to the requisite “20 cumulative years of service,” they held that she had completed only 18 years and 3 months of service at the time of her promotion as Director.
While calling for reviewing the officer’s eligibility and regularisation in accordance with the service rules and the cited Office Memorandum, the signatories — Zakie Rüpreo, Azhoy Zeliang, ST Yapang Lkr, Zavitso Kense, and Zakielabei Zumvü — further requested that the government review all similar appointments or promotions.
“If any Directors or Heads of Departments are found to have been appointed or promoted without due process or competitive examination, it is in the public interest that such cases be reviewed,” the representation stated. It added that such positions “be handed over to duly qualified IAS or NCS officers in adherence to established norms of merit, transparency, and administrative propriety.”
