DIMAPUR, APRIL 10 (MExN): The office of the Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton today stated that the state government’s efforts “have been completely twisted in the media” in a statement attempting to clarify on the move to replace current Director General of Police (DGP), Rupin Sharma.
While reproducing the reasons regarding requisite experience cited in his letter to the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, which was leaked on social media, the Deputy CM supplemented that “considering the shortage of IPS Officers in the senior level as well as for the post of DGP, the State Government on multiple occasions in the past also have approached the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for a suitable and Senior Officer to hold the post of DGP in Nagaland in the larger interest of the Department and the State.”
Citing MHA guidelines, it was pointed out that a criterion to hold the post of DGP, an IPS officer should have completed 30 years of service. In the case of a Special Category state like Nagaland, the Deputy CM while citing past instances stated that IPS officers, who have completed 28 years have been considered and appointed as DGP with the approval of the MHA. “The case of B Kezo IPS (1978 Batch Meghalaya) and LL Doungel IPS (1987 Batch West Bengal) are some of the recent examples of the same.”
As for Rupin Sharma, he said that the IPS officer (Nagaland cadre – 1992) did not fulfill the criteria. According to the Deputy CM, Sharma was “in the Scale of ADGP” as on January 2017 and had only completed 25 years of service at the time. Nevertheless, Sharma was allowed to hold the post of DGP “as a temporary arrangement… in view of the impending General Elections 2018.”
He continued that the posts of Chief Secretary and DGP are top most posts in the state government and are the most crucial posts for over all development of the state and maintaining the law and order in the state.
“As per the scheme of the constitution of India, maintaining over all law and order in the state is the responsibility of the popularly elected State Government and in furtherance of the same and in accordance with the principle of responsibility with authority, it is the direct responsibility of the State Government to select a suitable officer in the overall interest of the Public of the State contrary to what has been portrayed in the Media,” the Deputy CM claimed.
He further termed it “very unfortunate that the confidential correspondence of the highest level has been leaked in Social Media in an unauthorised manner” and is being “misinterpreted” in both print and social media.
