Kohima, May 7 (MExN): Five Right to Information (RTI) activists from Nagaland have petitioned Governor La Ganesan, seeking his immediate intervention to address what they termed as the “critical structural and functional issues” hindering the effective functioning of the Nagaland Lokayukta.
Despite being the State’s sole statutory anti-corruption body, the Lokayukta continues to face major operational challenges even six years after its establishment, undermining its role in ensuring transparency and accountability, the activists stated in a representation.
Based on responses from the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) and the Nagaland Lokayukta Office, the five—who are part of the RTI Initiative Nagaland—identified seven “pressing issues” requiring the Governor’s intervention.
According to the activists, though the Nagaland Lokayukta Police Station was notified following the dissolution of the Vigilance Commission, the Government has yet to confer statutory police powers to its Investigating Wing—powers deemed critical for independent investigations.
The representation appealed to the Governor to direct the State Government to urgently grant police powers to the Lokayukta’s Investigating Wing.
The activists also pointed out that more than six years since the enactment of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, the Government has failed to frame and notify the necessary Rules under the Act.
They urged the Governor’s office to ensure that these Rules are framed and notified without further delay, stating that the Rules are foundational to the Lokayukta’s operation.
Further, they contended that the absence of Service Rules for the Lokayukta, Upa-Lokayukta, and staff compromises the institution’s autonomy and exposes it to administrative dependence and called for the immediate framing and notification of these Rules.
The representation also highlighted that inadequate staffing and structural gaps in the administrative section of the Nagaland Lokayukta have severely affected its ability to function effectively and independently. The Governor was therefore urged to ensure restructuring and strengthening of the administrative setup.
Meanwhile, the representation noted that the Lokayukta, as a quasi-judicial statutory authority, is intended to function independently of the executive branch of government and, in most states, is not subject to the Rules of Executive Business.
However, in Nagaland, the Lokayukta has been placed under the purview of the Nagaland Rules of Executive Business, which the activists claimed compromises its autonomy and contradicts its intended independent status.
Thus, they advocated delinking of the Nagaland Lokayukta from the Rules of Executive Business to uphold its statutory independence and constitutional integrity.
The activists also flagged inadequate funding under the “Office Expenses” and “Motor Vehicle” heads, as revealed through RTI replies, and urged the Governor to intervene to ensure adequate budgetary support for the effective functioning of the institution.
Based on RTI responses, the representation highlighted that the Nagaland Lokayukta spent Rs 23 lakh in 2023–2024 and Rs 19 lakh in 2024–2025 on litigation expenses.
A significant portion of this expenditure, the activists said, was incurred in defending legal challenges filed by ‘delinquent officials’ questioning the Lokayukta’s autonomy, powers, and jurisdiction in conducting investigations, it said.
This recurring pattern of litigation not only burdens the institution financially but also obstructs its ability to function effectively, it added.
To this end, the activists argued that necessary amendments to the Nagaland Lokayukta Act be considered to clarify and strengthen the institution’s powers, thereby minimising the scope for frivolous or obstructive legal action and protecting the integrity of its decisions.
As per the activists, the issues listed threaten the purpose and credibility of the Nagaland Lokayukta and sought Governor office’s timely and crucial intervention to revitalise the institution.
Read in full text here: https://morungexpress.com/representation-on-governor-on-nagaland-lokayukta
