Mokokchung, October 21 (MTNews): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has stated that the Nagaland Lokayukta continues to be ‘headless’ for the second year and has urged the 2-member search committee to appoint the Lokayukta at the earliest and implement the Lokayukta in letter and spirit.
ACAUT Nagaland on Friday said in a press release that the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017 was duly given assent by the Governor of Nagaland on December 21, 2017 after ACAUT led a series of petitions, public rally resolution, agitations, walkathon from Dimapur to Kohima and finally a hunger strike outside the Nagaland Civil Secretariat.
Following this, it recalled that on January 31, 2018, the Nagaland Gazette issued a notification publishing the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017. “ACAUT along with various civil society organizations pressured for the appointment of Lokayukta,” it said, and thereafter the first Lokayukta of Nagaland, Justice Uma Nath Singh was sworn in on February 22, 2019 “but was prematurely asked to step down by the Supreme Court after 2 years in office on February 5, 2020.”
It said the UDA Government then appointed the Upa-Lokayukta to take charge of the Lokayukta which, as per the rules, it added, should not exceed 6 months “and that expired on 5th August 2021.”
“Interestingly, Lokayukta (Amendment No.2) Bill, 2021 moved on the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly was passed before adjournment sine die on August 5, 2021 making it official to keep the head of the anti-corruption Ombudsman vacant for a year,” it said.
“Since February 5, 2022 a year has lapsed and the Lokayukta continues to be headless for the second year to the undue political advantage of the UDA Government without any checks and balances in place,” the press release said.
ACAUT Nagaland further said that the most powerful legal institution against corruption “which did not have the qualified Lokayukta or the complete designated members but manned by a political appointee as Upa Lokayukta” should be condemned by every right thinking citizen. “In fact, the prestigious post of Upa Lokayukta should be occupied by a person of impeccable integrity, valid qualification and without any party affiliation,” it added.
Stating that the NDPP promised during the 2018 election campaign that it will “fight against corruption, centralization of power, and restore rule of law in the state,” ACAUT said that the NDPP have proved the motto “facta non verba” wrong. It said that an unchecked opposition-less UDA Government would be mired with scams, corruption cases, gross mis-governance and financial mismanagement leading to CBI and ED knocking at various departments.
It said that the “damning” publication of CAG reports over the years with no action taken is proof that the Government of Nagaland intends to keep the Lokayukta as a decorative piece without any power and functions.
Along with appointment of the Lokayukta, ACAUT also demanded that the State Vigilance Commission should be restored at the earliest to look into mounting corruption cases pertaining to government servants for befitting disciplinary actions against the erring officials.