DIMAPUR, JULY 12 (MExN): The Nagaland State Vigilance Commission (SVC) has responded to the aspersions cast by Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland on its role as simply being a “decorative arm of the State.”
A rejoinder from I Meyionen, Director & Deputy Inspector General of Police, Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Police on Tuesday, while acknowledging the concern expressed by ACAUT on issues that needs attention by the Commission, said it is investigating 90 cases (regular and preliminary enquiries), which is inclusive of SIT cases.
This requires the involvement of a good number of officers in every case and in addition, the investigating team requires touring the districts relating to the cases. However, the Commission pointed out that it has only 13 investigating officers, 11 assisting investigating officers and 3 supervising officers including the director for the whole state.
On the issue of fuel adulteration scam, the Commission noted that the Dimapur Police has already registered 2 FIRs, one in Diphupar PS and another in West PS and investigation in full swing.
Stating that there is a policy of the State Government against parallel investigation and the law also prohibits the same, the Commission therefore said casting aspersions and terming the SVC as a decorative arm of the State by ACAUT is therefore uncalled for.
On the issue of the Nagaland Excise Department case in 2014, the Commission said it had investigated the case and the findings and recommendation was communicated to the department for taking necessary action. Accordingly, the department had taken action by serving “administrative warning to one deputy superintendent of excise and one inspector while another inspector was also censored by the government.”
The Commission said it had also noted the poor maintenance of record by the department and recommended that the Excise department streamline the maintenance of all official records.
On the complaint of ACAUT with regard to backdoor appointment of BDOs in 2015, the Commission said this was addressed to the Chief Secretary and copy endorsed to State Vigilance Commissioner.
However, it informed that there was no direction from the government to investigate into the matter, for which reason the matter was not taken up by the Commission. On the PDS scam under the Department of Food & Civil Supplies, the Commission said it has received no formal complaint till date.
On the allegation of the SVC not taking up suo-moto cases, the Commission clarified that it functions as per the government resolutions and notifications adopted from time to time. It also said there was some technical issue with regard to the government amendments on the resolutions regarding suo-moto cases for which clarification has been sought from the government.
The Commission said ACAUT and the public should have faith in the police investigation on fuel adulteration and cooperate with the investigating team to ensure speedy investigation of the case.
