Mokokchung, September 5 (MTNews): The Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) has expressed shock at the 6 months service extension of T. John Longkumer as DGP Nagaland even after the expiry of his extended deputation on August 31, 2022. “This incongruous extension facilitated to accommodate a retired cadre of Chhattisgarh is unreasonable, discriminatory and arbitrary,” NLSF said in a press release today.
NLSF has appealed to the State Government to revoke/cancel the service extension of T. John Longkumer and appoint the senior most eligible IPS officer from the State Cadre to the post of DGP forthwith, “in the interest of justice.”
According to NLSF, T John Longkumer, a cadre of Chhattisgarh, was brought on deputation for 3 years to the post of DGP, Nagaland on June 27, 2018 as inter-state cadre. “Despite not having the requisite length of 30 years of service to come under the zone of consideration to be appointed as DGP, his ineligibility was condoned and the deputation was effectuated,” NLSF said.
At the given point of time, NLSF said it rose against the aforesaid illegality but the same was not attended. Subsequently, the deputation of T John Longkumer was further extended from June 26, 2021 till August 31, 2022, it said. “Even assuming that the entire purpose of deputing T John Longkumer was under extraordinary circumstances and in the best interest of the State, the recent extension after the expiry of his service completely vitiates every logical notion and reasoning,” the NLSF stated. Saying that the guidelines/directives for the appointment of the DGP by the Supreme Court have been endorsed to thwart any possible extraneous influences, NLSF added, “As such, under given facts and circumstances, it would not be wrong to ponder whether the State Government is aware of the guidelines/directives?”
NLSF said it is unable to comprehend the rationality of the unreasonable action of the State Government in reinstating a retired cadre of Chhattisgarh for further 6 months against the highly eligible IPS Cadres of Nagaland. “With the efficiency of time, the State of Nagaland now has the most eligible and efficient IPS officer in active service under State Cadre, fulfilling all the requisite qualifications under the directives/guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India; to send names of the Senior IPS Officer to the UPSC for being considered as probable candidates to be appointed to the post of DGP,” NLSF held.
“Yet the cadres of Nagaland have been deprived of the opportunity which is ex-facie violative of the Constitutional rights and the governing principles of service jurisprudence,” it claimed.
NLSF went on to say that the State Government as a model employer should adhere to the Constitutional values and principles. “Appointment at the whims and caprices of the State Government without following due procedures are dangerous practices setting bad precedents which will embolden further anomalies. It should be the responsibility of the State Government to make sure that law and order prevails and succeeds over irregularities and illegalities,” it remarked.
Saying that it is “extremely disappointed at the functioning of the State Government which somehow always tends to place the welfare of the few over its citizens,” NLSF said it is devastated to witness such unscrupulous misconduct at the highest level.