Agitation in Kohima called off; select committee on Lokayukta invites Acaut for consultation
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Nov. 17 (EMN): After four years of demand and pressurising the government to introduce the Lokayukta in Nagaland, now it is likely that the said bill would be introduced during the last winter session of the 12th assembly scheduled in mid December, 2017.
The Chief Minister TR Zeliang, during his meeting with members of the Public Coordination Committee, today at his official residence, has assured every possibility of passing the bill during the winter session after the standing committee led by Parliamentary Secretary Levi Rengma, submits the report of the bill to the assembly.
The members of Acaut, Public Service Aspirants of Nagaland, Nagaland Voluntary Consumers Organisation, who are spearheading the current agitation in the capital, met the chief minister today and submitted a 10-point charter of demands.
At the meeting, the CM directed the standing committee to sit for a meeting with members of the protestors before Nov. 20 (Monday) to discuss and further see into the details/particulars of the said bill. The CM, in the presence of Rengma, invited three to four members for the meeting along with the standing committee of Lokayukta and legal experts.
Stating that many states have passed the Lokayukta bill, the CM, however, added that the bill cannot simply be passed without a careful study on it. “We are studying this very carefully,” Zeliang stated.
“Streamlining the system is very important, but it is also equally important on how to carry forward,” Zeliang said maintaining that “we should see to it carefully see to it whether the Lokayukta will be able to serve the people to the maximum satisfaction.”
“We have never said that the Lokayukta bill will not be passed in Nagaland. It is our desire to make Nagaland a corruption free state, and therefore, we will try our best to do what is good for the people,” the CM said adding that “there should be a starting point.”
The standing committee chairman also assured to call for a consultative meet before Nov.20 , while he also shared about the progress made by the committee.
“Corruption is the root cause of so many evils, for which we all want to arrest it (corruption),” Rengma said adding that the committee had made the effort to visit different states to study about the Lokayukta bill.
“This also comes under a legal system, and therefore, certain procedures have to be followed,” he said and informed that 24 Indian states have already introduced the Lokayukta bill.
The first point of the charter demanded the government to immediately set up Lokayukta incorporating all the points submitted to the government by Acaut, while they also reiterated the demand to let the govt. revert back Class III posts to NPSC and further terminate all backdoor appointments made after 6th June, 2016.
The charter, counter signed by the coordination convenor Tia Longchar and co-convenor Meshenlo Kath, Acaut chairman Joel Naga, PSAN convenor Nitoka Swu, also demanded to immediately scrap the departmental recruitment board and set up State Staff Selection Board to recruit all Class-III posts with grade pay of less than Rs. 2800.
“Until such time, all these posts should be requisitioned to NPSC for open recruitment and the exam of which should be only written and without interview in line with the policy of the central govt. to do away with interview system in the junior grade,” the demand said, a copy of which was also addressed to the chief secretary, NPSC chairman and personal secretaries to all cabinet ministers.
It also demanded that NPSC should henceforth declare the written and interview marks of all the exams conducted by NPSC on the day of result declaration. While asking the govt. to revoke the P&AR OM No. AR/3/GEN-174/2007 dated 26th Oct, 2017, it also demanded the govt. to amend the P&AR OM No. AR-1/8/88 dated 3rd August 1995 (waiting list) so as to pave way for the NPSC to declare waiting list, written and interview marks on the day of result declaration and further to declare the answer keys of all examinations conducted by NPSC.
The ten-point charter also went to the extent with the demand to reduce the interview marks from 75 to 50 in the State civil service exam interview.
“In line with the system practiced by UPSC, the NPSC should also set maximum and minimum benchmarks in the viva voce examinations,” the demand added and further to recommend persons who are well qualified, possessing good track record and impeccable integrity as NPSC members, majority of which should be retired IAS/IPS/NCS/NPS officials.
While pressing for immediate implementation of the demands, the PCC also cautioned that it will continue and further intensify its agitation and take recourse to more stringent measures.
Representatives who spoke on behalf of the PCC include Tia Longchar, Joel Naga, Kezhokhoto Savi and Mar Longkumer.
All the speakers pressed the government to introduce the Lokayukta bill during this winter season.
“If we dream of doing away with corruption, Lokayukta is the answer,” Kezhokhoto Savi said adding that “the introduction of Lokayukta will provide a transparent and accountable government.”
The meeting was also attended by Minister for National Highways and Political Affairs, Kaito Aye and Principal Secretary to the CM
Earlier, before the meeting with CM, protestors adorned in black ribbons, turned up at Secretariat junction to agitate for the third day.
Meanwhile, the sit-in-protest has also been called off until further notice.
Lokayukta committee calls for meeting
The Chairman of the Select Committee on the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill, 2015 has on Friday convened a consultative meeting on the direction of the Chief Minister on Nov. 20.
“Er. Levi Rengma, Hon’ble Parliamentary Secretary and Chairman of the Select Committee on the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill, 2015 has convened a Consultative Meeting with the Sub-Committee and ACAUT on 20th November, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. in the Committee Room of Assembly Secretariat, ” stated a press release from the assembly secretariat.
It requested all the members of the select committee, Sub-Committee and Aaut representatives to attend the meeting.
