RTI reveals alleged violations in recruitment, promotion within Tribal Affairs Dept of Nagaland
A group of social activists has written to the Governor of Nagaland seeking his intervention into what they described as “irregularities” in the appointment and promotion of certain Directors in state government departments, particularly in the Department of Tribal Affairs.
In their representation, the activists said the issue “raises serious questions of administrative fairness and adherence to service rules,” and urged the Governor to “verify and take necessary action in compliance with established procedures.”
Citing information obtained under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the signatories alleged that the present Director of the Department of Tribal Affairs “was not appointed through the prescribed competitive examination process.”
They further claimed that her appointment “appears inconsistent with the Office Memorandum NO.AR-3/GEN-174/2007 (Pt) dated Kohima, the 29th August 2019,” issued by the Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department.
The representation stated: “We seek clarification as to whether she is lawfully holding the post of Director.”
According to RTI documents attached with the representation, Sino Phom was initially appointed as Deputy Co-ordinator at Nagaland University’s Centre for Mass Communication on May 19, 2005, “on a fixed pay basis.” However, when the activists sought the advertisement number, list of applicants, and copies of notifications, the CPIO of Nagaland University reportedly replied that the requested records were “not available.”
The letter further detailed that she was later appointed as Lecturer on August 17, 2007, based on the recommendation of the Selection Committee and approval of the Executive Council, and again appointed under Resolution No. EC 14:28 of the 14th Executive Council Meeting held on July 27, 2007.
The activists said that she was subsequently selected as OSD (Skill Development), Class-I (Gazetted) under the Planning & Coordination Department on November 16, 2011, “purely on a deputation basis for two years.” After several transfers and postings, she was promoted from Additional Director to Director under the Department of Tribal Affairs on August 1, 2023, the letter said.
Quoting the P&AR Office Memorandum of August 2019, the activists noted that officiating promotion can be given only to officers “having served more than 20 cumulative years of service” and only “after a minimum of one year at the immediate rank,” subject to clearance and regularisation by the Departmental Promotion Committee within three months.
“If her service period is calculated from her initial engagement as Deputy Co-ordinator in 2005, she would have completed only 18 years and 3 months of service at the time of her promotion as Director,” the representation stated. “Hence, her eligibility and the regularisation process merit review in accordance with the service rules and the aforementioned Office Memorandum.”
Calling for a broader inquiry, the signatories said, “If any Directors or Heads of Departments across other government departments are found to have been appointed or promoted without due process or competitive examination, it is in the public interest that such cases be reviewed.”
They suggested that such posts “be handed over to duly qualified IAS or NCS officers in adherence to established norms of merit, transparency, and administrative propriety.”
The letter, signed by Zakie Rüpreo, Azhoy Zeliang, ST Yapang Lkr, Zavitso Kense, and Zakielabei Zumvü, concluded: “We are confident of Your Excellency’s commitment to uphold good governance, fairness, and accountability in the State’s administrative framework. We therefore earnestly request your kind and timely intervention in this matter.”
