Nino Iralu addresses an event in Wokha on March 15, 2024. (Morung File Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | June 5
Nino Iralu, a retired District and Sessions Judge, has been appointed as the new Nagaland Lokayukta.
The appointment will be effective from the date of “taking oath of office before the Governor of Nagaland” in terms of Section 3(6) of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017 (Act 1 of 2018), and “assuming charge of her office to exercise the powers conferred on, and to perform the functions assigned to her under the Act,” stated an official.
Iralu’s appointment was made by the Governor of Nagaland based on the recommendation of the Selection Committee constituted under sub-section (2)(i) of Section 3 of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, informed the notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DP&AR).
The terms of office and conditions of service shall be as stipulated under Section 5 and Section 7 of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017 (Act 1 of 2018), it added.
However, the notification noted that the appointment is subject to the final outcome of the proceedings in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) currently pending in the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench (GHCKB).
Legal challenges to amendments
The PIL, filed in January 2025, challenged the amendment of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017, incorporated with the Nagaland Lokayukta (First Amendment) Act, 2019, and the Nagaland Lokayukta (Second Amendment) Act, 2022.
The GHCKB on January 22 initially passed an interim order staying the amendments, which included modifications to appointment procedures, eligibility criteria, and terms of office, while also expanding the state government’s power to make rules.
Among others, the 2022 amendment, for example, reduced the Lokayukta’s term from five to three years, with a provision for a two-year extension through mutual agreement with the state government.
Another contentious issue lies in the amended eligibility criteria for appointing the Lokayukta. The original Act restricted the role to those who had held high judicial office, such as a judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice of a High Court.
The amendments, however, expanded this to include individuals with experience in anti-corruption policy, public administration, or related fields.
However, on April 2, the Court lifted the interim order and instead directed the State respondents to file their affidavits on the issue without fail by April 25.
During the last hearing on May 14, the Nagaland Additional Advocate General was granted three weeks to file an affidavit-in-opposition.
While June 4 is listed as the next hearing date on the ‘Case Status’ record on the GHCKB website, but no formal proceedings were available in the public domain till the filing of the report. It is likely to be heard next week.
