AG Nagaland clarifies role, assures transparency amid pension controversy

KOHIMA — In the wake of public criticism and a viral video raising concerns over pension disbursement and financial procedures, the Office of the Principal Accountant General (Accounts and Entitlement), Nagaland, addressed the matter in a press conference on Friday, asserting its commitment to transparency and clarifying its constitutional role and processes.

Principal Accountant General Frederick Syiemilieh, along with Senior Deputy Accountant Generals Kahoto J Yepthomi and Azhar Jamal, explained the role and functioning of the AG office.

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Speaking at length, Yepthomi emphasised that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is a constitutional authority under Articles 149 to 151 of the Constitution. The AG does not fall under any ministry and functions independently, except for budgetary dependence on the Ministry of Finance, he said.

He clarified that the AG (A&E) acts as the accountant to the state government, compiling civil and annual accounts, but does not hold or disburse state finances. He stressed that entitlements like General Provident Fund (GPF), pay slips, loans, and leave encashment are supplementary roles, not constitutional mandates, and could be reassigned to the state government if needed.

Currently, AGs across all 28 Indian states manage accounts, while only 20 handle pensions and 19 manage GPF. Nagaland is among the nine where the AG also handles gazetted entitlements.

Pension delay: Longshithung case

Addressing the case of retired police inspector Longshithung Lotha, Yepthomi said the initial pension case was received on June 6, 2022, and cleared by July 2, 2022—well within the 30 working days stipulated in the office’s Citizen’s Charter.

The delay, he explained, was related to additional dues such as death-cum-retirement gratuity and leave encashment, affected by the freeze on DA increments during the Covid period. The delay was compounded by the retirement of the dealing assistant, leaving the application unattended until April 2025. The dues were eventually cleared in May 2025.

He noted that while public discussion has exaggerated the issue, it presents an opportunity for the AG office to clarify its internal processes and address gaps.

3,927 cases in 12 months

From July 2023 to June 2024, the AG office received 3,927 pension cases, of which 2,415 cases were submitted within 0–6 months of retirement, 922 cases after 7–12 months, and 590 cases after a year of retirement. Of these, 3,927 pension cases received, 3,515 pension cases were settled within the Citizen Charter’s prescribed timeline.

Yepthomi emphasised that if departments submit complete documents three months ahead of retirement, pensions can be processed and finalised on the day of retirement itself.

However, delays continue in cases where departments or retirees fail to submit necessary paperwork on time—sometimes even years after retirement.

The official recalled that during the 1980s and 1990s, Nagaland witnessed several instances of pension-related fraud. In response, a confirmation system was introduced as a safeguard.

As a result, the AG office no longer requires departmental confirmation for gazetted pension cases, thanks to integration with the state’s PIMS database. However, for non-gazetted employees, the AG still relies on departmental certifications due to the absence of central records.

In cases where applications arrive several years after retirement, the documents must go through the Personnel and Administrative Reforms department, which leads to additional delays. The officer appealed to departments to prioritise timely submissions, especially for Group C and D employees who are more financially vulnerable.

Yepthomi clarified that the AG’s role in pension processing begins only after receiving complete and properly formatted documentation from the departments concerned. The ultimate authority for sanctioning pensions lies with the state government, not the AG office.

He also informed that the pension application has been simplified and now consists of only two pages, compared to the earlier, more cumbersome format. To ensure transparency and accessibility, monthly pension authorisation details are published both on the official website and displayed on the office notice board.

Meanwhile, addressing concerns about restricted public access to files within the office, Yepthomi explained that when he first joined the Office of the Principal Accountant General (Accounts & Entitlement), Nagaland in 2013, the environment was chaotic like a “fish market” with numerous middlemen gaining access to multiple departments and handling various cases simultaneously. This, he said, disrupted the workflow and hampered the efficiency of the office, prompting the imposition of access restrictions.

He noted that the Nagaland Pensioners Association (NPA) later visited the office to express their concerns about these restrictions. During discussions, it became clear that most disruptions stemmed not from genuine pensioners or beneficiaries but from intermediaries acting on their behalf.

When shown comparative data on pension settlement rates before and after the implementation of access controls, the NPA acknowledged the improvement in efficiency and ultimately supported the continuation of the restrictions, he said.

Yepthomi claimed that the office remains accessible to the public on all working days—except Wednesdays—until 1.30 pm. Pensioners, government employees, and their dependents with legitimate concerns or inquiries are encouraged to approach the Grievance Redressal Cell for assistance and clarification, he said.

Additionally, he informed that an SMS-enabled system has been put in place to notify applicants of the status of their GPF and pension cases, particularly in instances of objections or settlements. This service is available to applicants who provide a valid phone number along with their documents.

Transparency measures

Yepthomi stated that the Right to Information (RTI) Act has been fully implemented since October 5, 2005. Details of the Public Information Officer, Assistant PIO, and Grievance Redressal officials are available both at the reception and on the website.

From 2019 to 2025, the AG office received 56 RTI applications, all of which were addressed and disposed of by the Appellate Authority.

The office currently has 107 staff members (including 12 MTS) against a sanctioned strength of 139. It maintains records for around 7,100 gazetted officers, including IAS, IPS, IFS, judicial officers, and UGC lecturers. The AG also manages GPF accounts for over 30,546 government employees (excluding Group D staff) and processed 10,059 GPF-related cases in the past five years.

Yepthomi reiterated that most pension delays stem from the state departments. The AG office remains committed to settling cases within 30 working days, assuming all documents are in order. Once the AG office completes processing, the case goes to the state Finance Department for confirmation and final credit to the beneficiary’s bank account.

Yepthomi emphasised a zero-tolerance policy on corruption. Over the past five to six years, three staff members were dismissed—not for bribery, but for absenteeism. He encouraged the public to submit documented grievances to the designated officers listed online or on the office notice board.

He also urged citizens to report serious cases to independent bodies such as the CAG, Lokayukta, CBI, or other relevant authorities if necessary.