John Yengkhom
Dimapur | December 20
The Right to Information Act has championed the cause of justice for Visheke, chairman, Seasonal Employees Adhoc Committee, (SEAC), Nagaland Sugar Mill Company (NSMC). And definitely ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’ does not hold good for him and the SEAC of NSMC particularly in the light of justice being delivered through the RTI Act.
The applicant through the RTI sought information from the Directorate of Industries and Commerce under section (6) of the RTI Act 2005 pertaining to withdrawal of a ‘cheque No. 331998 dated 23.04 04’ amounting to Rupees one Crore twenty three lakhs three thousand five hundred eighty issued by the government to release salary for seasonal employees of the NSMC.
Visheke was wrongly accused of withdrawing the said cheque and after five years of appealing at the Gauhati High court, Vigilance Commission and the CBI proved to be in vain finally resorted to use RTI to get information from the Directorate of Industries and Commerce as in whose name the cheque was made also as to who received the said cheque. Visheke in a press note stated that ‘Justice has been delivered in a few days’ after he appropriated the right to information from the department in concern.
The Directorate of Industries and Commerce furnished the queries filed by the applicant under the RTI and it revealed that the said cheque was issued in the name of one Shihovi Sumi and also the cheque was received by one Hokishe Assumi, the then Asstt. Director in charge of the VRS payment during that period, the press note informed.
Visheke while recounting the harrowing five year struggle stated, “It is a bitter memory to have experienced such kind of life under a government company… where my economic condition was totally deteriorated”.
The SEAC have also extended appreciation to the State Information Commission ‘for finally delivering justice and fulfilling the long aspiration’ of the employees.
At a time when transparency and accountability is much to be desired particularly from various departments of the state government, the case of Visheke does certainly give a shot in the arm to those seeking transparence and accountability from the government. The RTI has indeed been a boon to citizens and organizations seeking justice.
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