IMPHAL, March 10: There is a strong suspicion that the person who is taking over the post of Director in charge in the State Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Services (Dept), after the retirement of Dr Saidokhum Joute on February 28 last, is appointed against the seniority list.
An official order letter signed by A Subhash Singh, Deputy Secretary, Government of Manipur, dated February 26, 2015, said consequent upon the retirement of Dr Saidokhum Joute, i/c Director (Vety & AH), Manipur on February 28, Dr N Rajendro Singh, Joint Director (Vety & AH) shall hold the charge of Director (Vety & AH) with effect from March 1, 2015.
There were in total nine officers in the seniority list of Joint Directors (regular).
When six of the officers in the list got retired only three were left in service. They were Dr S Joute, Dr K Gopal and Dr N Rajendro Singh.
Earlier, Dr S Joute was in serial number 2 while Dr K Gopal and Dr N Rajendro Singh were in serial number 8 and 9 respectively.
But after the six officers got retired, the three officers became serial number 1, 2 and 3 in the seniority list.
When Dr S Joute got retirement on February 28 last, instead of promoting Dr K Gopal who was second in the last, they promoted Dr N Rajendro Singh who was stand in third in the list.
Uripok MLA Nandakumar Singh wrote a letter dated February 16 to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh requesting him to appoint Dr K Gopal Singh as the Director claiming that he was the right officer for the post according to rules.
` Shri Dr Konsam Gopal of Uripok Sinam Leikai, RIMS Road, Imphal of my constituency, a holder of Master Degree in Vety Science with Ph.D (Vety Medicine) and trained in Vety Laparoscopy, Zoonotic disease, Field Vety Epidemiology, Disaster Management`¦..`
`He is an awardee of Bharat Jyoti (for meritorious service, outstanding achievement) in the year 2012 and recipient of Indira Gandhi Excellence Award, 2013 (for outstanding individual achievement & distinguished service to the Nation, presently working as Joint Director of Vety Department) and posted at Senapati since January 1, 2015.`
`He is in serial number eight of the seniority list of the Joint Directors in the Vety Dept.`
`…Present incumbent Director of Vety Dept who is in the SL No 2 (two) of the seniority list is retiring from February 28, 2015. After his retirement Shri Dr Konsam Gopal Singh will be senior most Joint Director in the Vety Dept.`
`He has got all the experiences and qualification for being considered for appointment as Director of Vety & AH. After his promotion, he will have the opportunity of serving as Director for a period of about 6 months only.`
`Considering his experience and service in the Vety Department Hon`™ble Chief Minister may kindly consider for his appointment as Director of Vety & AH considering favourably of the retirement of the present incumbent.`
Considering MLA L Nandakumar Singh`™s request, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh wrote a letter to Vety & AH services Minister Govindas Konthoujam.
“¦.Please arrange to give either in-charge basis or regular after the present incumbent is retire if the propose Dr Konsam Gopal Singh is the senior most as a temporary arrangement`¦,` the Chief Minister`™s letter mentioned.
However, Dr K Gopal was not promoted; instead Dr N Rajendro Singh who was next to him in the list was promoted as the Director (in-charge) in the Directorate.