Nagaland cabinet reduces timeline for HPC to submit report
Nagaland cabinet reduces timeline for HPC to submit report
Nagaland Cabinet has shortened the the initial eight-week period granted to a High Power Committee (HPC) to four weeks for resolving the absorption issue of 147 assistant professors and librarians
(L-R) Dr. J Alam, TR Zeliang and KG Kenye addressing the
press conference. (EM Images)
KOHIMA — Nagaland Cabinet has shortened the
timeline for resolving the absorption issue of 147 assistant professors and
librarians, reducing the initial eight-week period granted to a High Power
Committee (HPC) to four weeks. The decision was taken during Monday afternoon’s
Cabinet meeting.
The announcement was made at a late-night press conference
held at the Chief Secretary Conference Hall, led by Deputy Chief Minister TR
Zeliang, along with Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye and
Chief Secretary Dr. J Alam.
Following the Cabinet discussion, government officials
engaged in separate meetings with representatives from the Naga Students'
Federation (NSF), the Combined Technical Association Nagaland (CTAN) and the
Nagaland NET Qualified Forum (NNQF) to further discuss the matter.
Zeliang recounted that the HPC was originally granted eight
weeks to present its report to the Cabinet, but the CTAN and the NNQF had
expressed dissatisfaction with the extended timeframe, prompting several rounds
of meetings with the Minister for Higher Education.
According to him, the Cabinet deliberated on the issue at
length, understood the contention of the agitators, and took a new decision: if
the eight weeks were too long for the protestors to wait, then they will reduce
the number of days and weeks to four weeks instead.
Under this new configuration, the HPC now has just three
weeks remaining, as one week has already passed since the committee's formation
on April 21.
Zeliang emphasised the government's desire to receive a
comprehensive report from the HPC, citing the need for documented evidence and
proof to support any future decisions regarding the contentious issue.
This information will include details regarding the years in
which appointments were made, the number of appointments made, and the tenure
of those responsible.
The deputy chief minister maintained that the government has
appealed to the protestors, including the Naga Students' Federation, to
consider the Cabinet's position and engage in discussions amongst themselves.
Zeliang assured all parties that the government is committed
to taking a "positive step and action" following the HPC's report
submission within the next three weeks.
According to Zeliang, the Cabinet on June 6, 2016, took the
decision that “ad hoc or contract appointments will not take place”, and it was
subsequently ratified by the State Assembly.
“There is no lapse of process if you talk about 6th June,
2016. But in between, some decisions were taken adverse to what we had decided
in 2016. So the Cabinet understood the position of the agitators. But we need a
few days' time, and we have given a few days' time to the High Power Committee
to submit the report," he explained.
The HPC's mandate is to identify those responsible for
violating the 2016 decision, pinpoint the years in which the improper
appointments occurred, and quantify the number of unauthorised positions
created. The government intends to hold the responsible departments and
officers accountable based on the HPC's findings, he assured.
Zeliang clarified that recently appointed department heads (AHOD,
HOD, secretary, and director) will not be held liable for actions taken by
their predecessors.
Acknowledging the erosion of public trust due to past
deviations from the established policy, he appealed to the agitators to suspend
their protests pending the completion and review of the HPC report.
However, he maintained that the government and the Cabinet
require a report in order to take corrective decisions. The HPC will examine
‘whose clearance was taken from the Finance and P&AR department,’ he added.
While the Minister for Higher Education had reportedly made
assurances to the agitators, the issue was not formally raised for a decision
in the Cabinet beyond general discussion. The Cabinet has thus opted to defer
any action until the HPC report is available. The Cabinet will review the
report to decide how to move forward.
He also emphasised that the June 6, 2016, decision applies
universally to all government departments, not just Higher Education.
