DIMAPUR, JUNE 26 (MExN): The District Congress Committee, Dimapur (DCCD) today called for a probe into what it said were anomalies in the Nagaland State Excise Department.
Taking up RTI replies furnished by the department on an application filed by Vikato S Aye, former President, Highway Area Sumi Students’ Union Dimapur, the DCCD held a press conference in Dimapur today and demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into all the “anomalies.”
The RTI application was filed on May 29, 2017 by Vikato S Aye, and the PIO of the department furnished its reply on June 16, 2017.
In the RTI reply, the department informed that 11 vehicles have been allotted to people who are “not entitled” for the same in the department.
It revealed allotments under this were made to the Parliamentary Secretary, Excise (Bolero); a Secretary, Excise Kohima (applied for); an Inspector of Excise (M/S) (Bolero Invader); a UDA (M/van); a Senior Account Officer (M/Van); a retired Assistant Commissioner of Excise (Enf) (Bolero); a retired Deputy Commissioner of Excise (HQ) (Bolero); a retired Superintendent of Excise, Zunheboto (Gypsy); a retired Superintendent of Excise, Dimapur (Bolero Invader); the Superintendent of Excise, Kohima (Bolero Invader); and a retired Registrar, Excise Dimapur (Bolero).
The department however mentioned that 6 of these vehicles are under process for condemnation. This includes, as per the RTI reply, those belonging to the retired officials and the one for the Superintendent of Excise, Kohima. The RTI documents, which were made available to the media, also revealed that 25 vehicles were purchased by the department since 2010 and that 11 vehicles have been condemned since 2005.
The DCCD President, Kughato Aye raised the issue of retention of vehicles by retired department officials beyond the permitted 6 months time, and called for a probe into it. The department also informed that as of 2015, 44 officials (AIE and below) have retired in the department. Further it was revealed that 22 appointments were made since 2015, of which 19 were direct appointments and 3 appointments were made on compassionate grounds.
According to the department, remaining vacancies in the department are under the process for advertisements at one go in order to “avoid piece advertisement.”
The DCCD meanwhile said that even as the department talks about shortage of staff, there was still a vacancy of 25 Head Constables, 4 Havildars, 2 Peons and 4 LDA-cum Computer Assistants. The DCCD demanded requisitioning of all the alleged “backdoor appointees” to the NPSC.
Responding to other queries, the department informed that there is no reservation/provision in the department for people with disabilities, and that there are no special privilege /terms and conditions for employees with disabilities. Further it was revealed there are only 3 persons with disabilities are in the field for Dimapur.
