Dimapur, August 3 (MExN): Taking a strong stand on the appointment of Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta in Nagaland, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has ‘warned’ the State Government not to commit the same mistake in the selection of the person.
It also ‘warned’ the politicians not to lobby for their own candidate, “If at all they support the institution to truly function as per the Act.”
A press release issued by the Press and Media Cell, NVCO stated that there should be no mistake in the appointment of Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta as “it would amount to playing with the highest institution in the state which is in dire need to check the corrupt public servants and punish them and this is the only way to build the society by eradicating corruption in the functions of public offices.”
Especially for the post of Upa-Lokayukta, it said that Naga people do not want retired government servants, bureaucrats or technocrats etc, with accumulations of wealth as Lokayukta is to punish the corrupt public servants.
Someone with record of corrupt practices, pending cases against them with scam or with political party affiliation should be ‘totally rejected’, it opined. “We need someone, a Naga by blood who can genuinely love the Naga society and courageous enough to check the corrupt public servants be politicians or bureaucrats or technocrats, etc,” it asserted.
NVCO President, Kezhokhoto Savi urged the public to come forward and voice for strong Lokayukta in Nagaland so that the State Government selects the right person with integrity. Alleging that in Nagaland, corruption has been deeply rooted in the ‘administration, politics and judicial system,’ it pointed out that some of the common corrupt practices are abuse of power, nepotism, favoritism, extortion, bribery, embezzlement and fraud.
He said that the main objective of Lokayukta is to curb the menace of corruption within the State. When any individual makes a complaint against the ‘public servant’ relating to corruption, mal-administration, favoritism, nepotism, etc, the Lokayukta looks into such matters and investigates and if they find out that the allegations are true, the public servant is punished, he stated.
