Dimapur, June 15 (EMN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has informed that it has accepted the RTI reply from the Cabinet Secretariat and decided to withdraw the appeal from the Central Information Commission (CIC) which was filed online June 11 to CIC office Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka in New Delhi.
The Chief Secretary Office PIO has forwarded the RTI reply of cabinet secretariat (cabinet cell) on June 5 then the matter was communicated to the NPRAAF June 13 and handed over on June 14, a press statement received here on Friday from the information & publicity cell of the NPRAAF informed.
The press statement stated that the forum is not satisfied with the government response which stated that the advisors (MLAs) were appointed as per Rule 5 and 23 of Nagaland Executive Business 2016.
Pointing out that the Nagaland Rules of Executive 5 (4) clearly states that, the appointed advisors / parliamentary secretaries shall be administered oath of secrecy by the chief minister, the NPRAAF said the appointment of advisors has clearly violated the Nagaland Rules of Executive 2016, as the advisors were not administered oath of secrecy by the chief minister.
Also, pointing out that the Nagaland Rules of Executives 2016, in Rules 5 (3) & (4) clearly expounds that the powers of parliamentary secretaries and advisors are same in nature, the forum said the appointment of advisors was illegal as it is against the Supreme Court judgment as it goes against the spirit of Article 164 (1A) of the constitution of India.
NPRAAF appreciated the Government of Nagaland for not providing any facilities, including perks, salaries and other allowances to all the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) members except the chairman and co-Chairman of the PDA as per RTI reply.
Demands removal of facilities provided to PDA chairman and co-chairman
The NPRAAF demanded that all facilities provided to the PDA chairman and co-chairman should also be removed immediately like the other PDA members are bereft of all facilities.
It also demanded that the name and style of status as cabinet ministers and ministers of state tagged on the PDA members should also be done away.
“NPRAAF is surprised that some of the PDA members are illegally using the national flag in their cars which is nothing but flaunting of their self importance status,” the press release stated.
Stating that the national flag is not meant to boast but to respect, the NPRAAF requested the government to have grip on its members to avoid embarrassment.
Further, it has informed that the forum has communicated with the chief secretary and other important elected members in the PDA government about NPRAAF desire to settle the issue once and for all by having a sitting with the chief minister soon.
