EMN
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 7
The NPCC on Monday reiterated that the Commissioner and Secretary to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had engaged in dereliction of duty when he refused to accept the “public grievance” given in writing to the NLA Speaker by the state Congress.
“The Commissioner and Secretary NLA, has no authority to decide on the letter and petition which were addressed to the Honorable Speaker. The NPCC consider the action of the Commissioner and Secretary refusing to accept the letter and petition addressed to the Speaker to be an act of dereliction of duty by a government servant,” the NPCC said in a press release.
Citing the “Rule 13 of The Members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 2003”, the NPCC stated that if the Speaker, for any reason, is not available for performing his duties, the same shall be performed either by the deputy Speaker or “the members in the panel of Chairman.”
“That the Rule 13 provides that, Order in forms O-1=A to O-14 shall be passed only by the Speaker and apart from that, there is no provision as such, in Rule 13 to refuse letter or petition which are brought before the Honorable Speaker Office. But the present Adviser to Speaker is clarifying the matter by interpreting the provision of Rule 13 that, the Commissioner and Secretary is neither competent nor authorized by the Rules to accept or reject the petition for disqualification of members. “
The Commissioner and Secretary, has no right to refuse public grievances which are brought to the notice of the Speaker. Regarding the AICC letter on 21st July 2015 the Advisor to Speaker has received the letter in the office on the same day the Commissioner & Secretary NLA refused to accept the letter, it stated.
