Dimapur, July 13 (EMN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has demanded the government to lay down rules and criteria for induction of State Information Commissioner, adding that the process of short-listing candidates for appointment to Information Commissions must be participatory and transparent by allowing public consultation and debate before a short-list is finally sent to the selection committee. It said the criteria used for short listing and for selection must be made public.
It may be mentioned here that the office Nagaland Information Commission was completely burnt on the night of February 2 last during the public protest against ULB elections. The Commission consisted of State Chief Information Commissioner (retired State chief secretary) and a State Information Commissioner (retired Chief Engineer PHE) prior to the burning of the Nagaland Information Commission office. NVCO was surprised to learned induction of another State Information Commissioner, who was also a retired Chief Engineer (Power) when the Commission was not functioning since February 2.
NVCO questioned the State government on the necessity to induct another State Information Commissioner when the State Information Commission was not functioning which will have a bearing on the State exchequer.
NVCO was also appalled at the recent development in which the chief minister Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu appointed his own son as his advisor besides inducting two of his own villagers as member of Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC) and State Information Commissioner.
Meanwhile, NVCO has strongly demanded CBI probe into the case of MKR Pillai, retired Additional Superintendent of Police who rose from constable and consultant to Director General of Police. It stated that the people of Nagaland must not opt for any other mechanism except the CBI probe as several of our own top leaders including politicians, bureaucrats, police officers, etc. may be involved. It added that the citizens of Nagaland cannot effort to avoid or buried the MKR Pillai scam.
NVCO further urged the State government not to appoint any consultant especially the non-locals. It concurred that the State government’s unwillingness to establish Lokayukta in the State could be the reason of their involvement in several scams like that of MKR Pillai case.
