2078 appointments without adverts in Nagaland Home Department from 2013-17
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 23
The 15th session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) finally witnessed deliberative discussions and uncomfortable questions raised (lasting hours) after a long dry spell of question-less and discussion-less assembly sessions in the past year under the much hyped ‘Opposition-less Government’.
The discussions were stirred after the questions raised by Mhonlumo Kikon, MLA in the Assembly towards the Home Minister, Minister for Roads and Bridges and Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
Replying to the question on how many appointments were made from 2013 to 2017 in the Home Department, Y Patton, Home Minister answered that 36 UBSIs, 19 ABSIs, 21 SI (NPTO), 2 MTSI, 32 ASI, 35 Havildars, 22 THC, 2178 Cosntables, 49 Clerical and 53 PEPs were appointed.
On the appointment process and the procedure followed for Constables, Havildars, ASI, ABSI/UBSI, NPTO SI and MTSI and the third grade clerical posts for the year 2014-2017, Patton mentioned that 4 UBSI, 3 ABSI, 7 ASI, 10 Havildars, 7 THC, 277 Constables were created for the eastern districts of Nagaland by open advertisements. Five clerical posts were filled up in 2015 through open recruitment.
Further, the Minister furnished details that 20 UBSI, 21 ABSI, 21 SI (NPTO), 2 MTSI, 17 ASI, 35 Havildars, 22 THC, 1901 Constable, 39 Clerical posts were filled up directly without advertisement from 2013-2017.
When Kikon asked if such posts without advertisements qualify as backdoor appointments, Patton stated that “the appointments do not come to the government directly.”
He meanwhile assured: “We will look into it and if they have done through backdoor, we will try to find out the reason why they have done then.” Patton further said that he only took over the department in 2014 and that there was excess appointment of 1600 posts in the department when he took over.
PHE Minister, Tokheho Yepthomi further sought clarification if the department is taking any corrective measure to control excess appointment, to which Patton informed that the excess posts have been reduced to 850.
“Sometimes, our department is compelled to go for recruitments because of various reasons. After creation of three districts, Kiphire, Longleng, Peren there was no post creation, so for that also the Department has done few recruitment,” said Patton adding that the Department has 1567 vehicles, for which the Government of Nagaland has provided only 912 posts.
Patton also highlighted that a P&AR memorandum makes it mandatory for a department to seek the government’s approval for all types of appointments including Grade IV before making the appointment, however it exempts the police. Therefore he suggested changes in the memorandum.
Kikon meanwhile urged for the recruiting policy to be open. He also cautioned that if the follow up as promised by the Home Minister is not taken, he would file a writ petition in the court.
Chief Minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu reaffirmed Patton’s statement on posts that do not come directly to the government but are done by the department and by unit commanders also ‘as per the need’. In some emergencies, some of these appointments “might have been done without strictly observing the procedure but I can assure the house that these mistakes will not be repeated in the future,” the CM said adding that the Police Department is facing shortage of manpower throughout the State.
Disagreeing with the CM’s statement, Kikon asserted that the need for more personnel to man the State cannot be equated with the need for an open recruitment process. “Backdoor appointment is equivalent to corruption and the government has to stand on its pledge for good governance,” he asserted. The Speaker of the House however expunged the MLA’s statement that “backdoor appointment is equivalent to corruption.”
Construction of Bridge at Governor’s Camp, Liphanyan
On the questions raised by Kikon seeking details on the construction of the Bridge at Governor’s Camp Liphanyan, R&B Minister, Vikheho Swu informed that the firm M/s L. Pukhato Shohe & Sons, NPW/CL-I/52 was allotted the work.
The work order which was furnished in an enclosed copy mentioned that the work order (issued in March 2014) amounted to Rs 2214.27 lakhs and was to be completed within 30 months.
The Minister said that tender for the same work was invited but due to the urgency from the public, the department could not advertise and invite open tender. “Yes the work order has actually expired from September but the work could not be completed because of the funding. The bridge is funded under SPA, and we all know that the SPA funding has been stopped. This is one of the reasons why the work could not be completed but I am quite aware that the work is in progress. If the honorable member feels that it is not in good progress, we will ensure that the department visit the site,” Swu assured.
Meanwhile it was also revealed that under the State scheme (maintenance) for roads Rs 12,925 lakhs was allotted for 24 divisions (2014-2017) with Kohima receiving the highest amount (Rs 2747.75 lakhs) followed by Dimapur (Rs 2640.71 lakhs.) Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Rs 165 lakhs has been allotted for 15 divisions (2015-2016).
Payment to NGOs
Regarding the protests of NGOs working in the field of HIV and AIDS, Kikon asked if any actions have been taken by the CMO or Government of Nagaland to address this issue.
Health Minister, P Longon replied that the payment could not be made to the NGOs because NACO under GoI only released 80 percent of the fund for the NGOs. While NSACS has also written to the GoI to release the amount, Longon mentioned that the centre has only released 80 percent ‘based on the project agreement but the NGOs are demanding for 100 percent. We cannot do it by ourselves.’
“We will give our best efforts to see that the payment is made to them but as State Government we all know the fund constraints of the State. We cannot make payment by ourselves unless the central government takes care of it,” the Minister answered.
