IMPHAL, October 20: Regarding the imbroglio of appointment of certain officials in the Manipur State Assembly Secretariat, it may be mentioned that the State Assembly functions with full autonomy under bylaws laid down by the Constitution of India.
However, recent reports following up on alleged nepotism in selection of officials further revealed that including some officials, 3 officers inclusive of Deputy Secretaries, M Sushila Devi and M Shyam Singh, Joint Secretary T Nengzakham took voluntary retirement on December 20,2011.
After retirement of the mentioned officials, one Under Secretary was immediately promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary and one post of Under Secretary became vacant. The vacant post was filled up by the wife of the present Speaker, Th Nivedita Devi on 22 December,2011. The matter of how 3 officers took voluntary retirement on the same day just some days prior to the enforcement of the Election code of conduct for the 10th Manipur Assembly Election was queried to a concerned official of the Assembly Secretariat.
Under Secretary (Administration) Abdul Gaffar stated that 3 months prior notice was served by the officials for voluntary retirement. After four posts became vacant, one official, namely Nivedita Devi was directly recruited and 3 others were promoted. According to the rules of recruitment of the Assembly Secretariat, 75 % is by promotion and 25% is directly recruited.
According to a reliable source, it was learnt that one post vacancy was advertised for a class II gazette officer but five candidates were appointed during the last two years.
Two posts of under-secretary were appointed against one post advertised. They are namely, E Shantashree Devi, d/o ex-MLA, E Dwijamani and Th Nivedita Devi. The latter was kept in the panel due to being overage but an OBC certificate was procured to ensure the appointment.
9 posts were advertised for LDC but 21 candidates were appointed. Further, 180 candidates in different categories were appointed on contract basis without any advertisement and without SC/ST candidates.
It was also learnt that 3 Bolero Jeeps and 5 Gypsies which were only 2/3 years old were awarded condemned status and sold for Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 each whereas vehicles procured before a decade has not been condemned.