EMN
DIMAPUR, MARCH 11
ACAUT Nagaland on Friday said ‘as conscience-keepers’, the MTLT cannot be threatened and harassed for doing what the Deputy Commissioner himself should be doing. The ACAUT then said it fully supports the “yeomen service” rendered by the MTLT to root out corruption and stands shoulder to shoulder with the progressive youths of Mokokchung.
In a press note, ACAUT Nagaland said that if the district administration of Mokokchung was really concerned with the welfare of the poorer sections of society and bent on upholding the rule of law, the DC should have recommended the immediate suspension of the store keeper, F&CS department, instead of setting up an Inquiry Committee which the common folks understand as ‘allowing the guilty to go scot free.’ “Thus, the DC in one masterstroke managed to wash off his hands from the whole sordid affair as well as protect the real masterminds when it was within his power to take appropriate action,” ACAUT note added.
ACAUT then alleged that no sincere effort was made by the Mokokchung police to arrest the accused. “The accused was no Osama bin laden that he could have managed to evade arrest for so long. Instead, he was given ample time, may be even advised to take anticipatory bail which the storekeeper eventually did. Thus, the full force of the district machinery was mobilized to protect the accused”.
According to ACAUT, against this background, it’s not surprising that the DC Mokokchung has threatened to arrest MTLT members for exposing the Mid-day meal scam in Mokokchung town. The ACAUT Nagaland questioned the DC whether there are two sets of law, one to protect the rich and the affluent and another to harass progressive minded organisations and individuals who are solely concerned for the good of society. “Had the DC been quick then to cite CrPC, 1973, as he’s doing now to intimidate MTLT, the Storekeeper, F&CS would have been promptly arrested and suspended by now”. Quoting Section 441, IPC, 1896, whereby the DC suggested that aggrieved government officials could seek legal remedy against MTLT, is a classic case of Defence Mechanism where one takes an aggressive stand to instill fear and discourage an dissent, in this case, their non-justifiable positions, ACAUT added.
ACAUT also said that on one hand the government’s political rhetoric is asking people to be vigilant against corruptions where as in practice it is just the opposite, any fair minded person would question whether the government is working for the people or against its people. “It is only in a third-rate State like Nagaland with no semblance of governance that the law can be mocked at will,” the ACAUT press statement added.
MTLT lambasts Mkg DC for issuing March 10 order
The Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) expressed its deep concern at the lackadaisical attitude of the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner, Sushil Kumar Patel (IAS) over the midday meal (MDM) rice issue at Mokokchung town.
The MTLT also expressed concern about thousands of students studying in different government primary and middle schools who are deprived of their midday meal at their schools.
MTLT President Imkummeren Jamir and General Secretary Taliakum Pongen in a press note said, “So far there seems to be no clear-cut action on the part of the education department to ensure that the children avail their midday meal in their schools. What is more disturbing is the apathetic attitude of the Mokokchung deputy commissioner over the whole issue. It must be noted here that the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner, Sushil Kumar Patel, is the chairman of the District Mission Authority (DMA), and as such the proper implementation of the different schemes under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and other centrally sponsored educational schemes should be his outmost concern.”
MTLT said while it was waiting in good faith for education department and district administration to take necessary actions, the Deputy Commissioner instead issued an order on March 10 (Order number – NO.JUD-39/83-2001/396 Dated Mkg. the 10th March 2015) which implied that MTLT undertook a ‘searching’ activity at schools in Mokokchung town.
“The Deputy Commissioner also apparently incited through his order that “the persons aggrieved (private or Government officials) by such searches may seek legal remedy under sec 441 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Criminal Trespass) against the perpetrators of such illegal action”.
“Though the Deputy Commissioner has not named the MTLT directly, but issuing an order right after the ‘visitation’ to the schools by the MTLT, is evident for all to surmise that the order was directed against the MTLT,” the note said.
MTLT also clarified that the ‘visitation’ was undertaken after precise information was received from school employees who informed about the uneatable rice and also from students who complained that they were not getting midday meal.
MTLT said, the ‘visitation’ was done on a goodwill basis in the greater interest of the students and the educational institutions.
MTLT questioned whether there has been any complaint from any quarter regarding the ‘visitation’ from the school authorities; whether there was any ‘criminal trespass’ and whether anyone has lodged an FIR against the MTLT in this regard.
MTLT strongly condemned the Deputy Commissioner for issuing the ‘order’ which it said has deeply hurt the sentiments of the public and disregarded the positive role being played by the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem.
“Trying to invoke “Sec 441 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Criminal Trespass)” amounts to imply that the MTLT undertook a criminally unwarranted and forceful ‘search’, which is totally untrue. The public is well aware of the visitation, and the MTLT has every right to visit any school or public institution.”
MTLT maintained that the order by Deputy Commissioner was nothing but just a ploy to hide his incompetence in tackling the issue at hand.
MTLT asserted that if the Deputy Commissioner cannot tackle the issue or stand up for the young children or the society at large, then he should apply for transfer or the state government should relieve him of his responsibility as the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner.
