DIMAPUR, MAY 8 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAFF) today stated that it is not against the appointment of PDA members to coordinate between the ruling alliance, but rather against the “unconstitutional” rank accorded to party functionaries as Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State with salary, allowances, perks and other facilities which come directly within the purview of Section 21 IPC.
A press note from the NPRAAF said that appointment of PDA members if deemed necessary is “absolutely the political party’s discretion.”
However conferring cabinet status goes against the ruling 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 NPRAFF pointed out.
It stated that the Nagaland government’s action “amounts to outwitting the constitutional mandate contained in Article 164 (1A) which was adopted with a view to minimize the expenditure on office of profit.”
The NPRAAF said it would never endorse the state government to use the state exchequer at will to “sponsor the PDA members or any constitutionally unsanctioned post when the state government is in deep financial crisis, finding it difficult even to pay salary to the government servants besides being unable to pay bills to the contractors.”
It informed that the forum has asked for detailed information from the Chief Secretary’s office as well as the office of Parliamentary Affairs about the powers and functions of the “backdoor Ministers” including their salary, perks and allowances; paid and any other facilities provided to the “non-legislators made Ministers from backdoor.” It further asked under which provision of law they were given the rank and status of Ministers.
The NPRAAF deemed it best that the government cancel, suspend or rectify the appointment letters immediately and “serve the people meaningfully rather than engaging itself in legal confrontation which will ultimately affect even the appointment of Advisors who are bereft of Cabinet and Minister rank and status even as an elected legislators.”
“NPRAAF will never allow the state government to misuse public money for appeasement of party functionaries unconstitutionally,” it asserted.
The forum meanwhile maintained that "NPRAAF is a non-political civil society espoused to stand up relentlessly against the onslaught of corrupt cult in the state.”
