United Sangtam Students' Conference alleges rampant absenteeism among officials in Kiphire, seeks administrative reforms.
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DIMAPUR — Alleging that a culture of absenteeism among government officials is undermining governance and development in Kiphire, the United Sangtam Students' Conference (USSC) on Wednesday called for immediate administrative reforms and action against officers found violating service rules.
Citing findings from surprise inspections conducted on May 25 and the 26th, the student body claimed that several senior officials posted in the district were frequently absent from their duty stations, forcing subordinate staff and members of the public to bear the burden of delayed services and administrative inefficiency.
In a press release, the USSC stated that the issue was particularly concerning given Kiphire's status as an Aspirational District under NITI Aayog.
The conference alleged that many heads of departments (HoDs) appeared to reside outside the district, mainly in Dimapur and Kohima, visiting Kiphire only during monthly District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meetings and other official engagements.
Describing the trend as a “DPDB-centric administration,” the USSC asserted that such practices weaken governance, reduce accessibility to public services and defeat the purpose of maintaining district-level administrative offices.
The organisation also flagged “signature tourism”, claiming that subordinate employees are often compelled to travel outside Kiphire to obtain signatures and approvals from absentee officers.
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USSC urges government officials to be in station
"This practice wastes public resources, burdens lower-ranking employees and causes avoidable delays in government services and developmental programmes," it stated.
The USSC informed it has submitted a formal representation to the deputy commissioner of Kiphire and urged the state government to verify the allegations and take appropriate action against officials found violating service rules.
Referring to Fundamental Rule 17(1), the conference maintained that unauthorised absence from duty should attract the principle of “No Work, No Pay.”
It further warned that if the matter remains unresolved, it may explore legal remedies, including seeking a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution to compel authorities to discharge their public duties.
Alongside its demand for accountability, the USSC acknowledged the infrastructural challenges faced by officials posted in remote districts and proposed a series of reforms to improve governance and attendance.
Among its recommendations were the introduction of biometric attendance and geo-fencing systems linked to salary disbursement, early completion of the proposed officers' residential colony in Kiphire, and the establishment of a joint quarterly monitoring mechanism involving the district administration, civil society organisations and student bodies.
It maintained that the development of Kiphire should not be "held hostage to the convenience of a few" and stressed that public officials must remain physically present and accountable to the people they serve.
“Public office is a public trust. Those entrusted with the responsibility to serve must also be willing to be present,” it stated.