Demands action against consultant; alleges backdoor appointments
Dimapur District Congress Committee (DDCC) on Monday came out in open to point out irregularities in the functioning of the state Excise department, including alleged backdoor appointments made since 2015.
Taking note of the recent multi-crore scam, involving consultant to DGP Nagaland, MKR Pillai, DDCC has revealed that the state Excise department had also appointed one retired official as consultant to Excise department, who was in charge of training of Excise personnel and looks after the bonded warehouse.
Talking to media persons here at the Congress office, DDCC president Kughato S. Aye, without naming the consultant, alleged that the consultant had siphoned off huge amount of money meant for training purposes and was also responsible for illegal flow of liquor in the state.
In this regard, DDCC has demanded the state government to thoroughly probe into the activities of the consultant and also to take immediate action.
DDCC also demanded action against retired officials who were still using government registered vehicles of department.
Backdoor appointments: DDCC based on an RTI response (filed by one former Highway Area Sumi Students Union president, Vikato S. Aye) alleged that the Excise department had made 21 backdoor appointments during 2015-17.
Demanding a thorough probe by a Special Investigation Team, DDCC revealed that among the 21 employees (three appointed on compassionate ground in 2015-16) included- one Assistant Inspector Excise (AIE), two LDA, three head constables, 11 constables, one steno, one driver and two peons.
During 2016-17, Kughato Aye said 40 employees retired from service– four AIE, 30 head constables and six constables. However, the same vacancy has not been filled up, he said. The department in the reply categorically stated that the vacancies were under process for advertisement “to avoid piece meal advertisement”, he said. Aye also informed that apart from the RTI disclosure, there were 35 vacant posts in the department- four LDA-cum computer assistant, four head constables, 25 constables and two peons.
In this regard, DDCC demanded that the all vacant posts be requisitioned and advertised for open recruitment and open exams. Further, it was also revealed that the department during 2005-2017 purchased 25 vehicles and later issued “condemnation” order for 11 vehicles.
DDCC said it was also shocked to learn that the PIO, in the RTI reply, mentioned that uniform personnel with disability were engaged in excise field duties for detection and seizure of liquor and drugs. To this, DDCC went on to hit out at the department for not maintaining any reservation/provision for people with disabilities/handicapped. It rather made known that employees with disability should be deputed for clerical jobs and not to man check gates, saying it was in total violation of human rights.