Kohima, November 2 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) appealed to the state Government to appoint the right person as the Chief Secretary (CS) of Nagaland “without discrimination and bias.”
In a press release on Monday, the NPRAAF pointed out that after former CS Pankaj Kr (NL-87 batch) left for Delhi on central deputation, R Binchilo Thong from the same batch was supposed to be the next and was rightly appointed.
In place of him, however, Tali Temjen Toy IAS (NL-89) batch was brought in and the former was removed and posted as Director General, ATI without good reason, it maintained.
However, having learnt that the Toy is undergoing medical treatment, NPRAAF said that Thong, who was also on medical leave when Pankaj Kr left for Delhi’s deputation but have since then “fully recovered and fit”, should replace him.
Moreover, he is the senior most Nagaland IAS cadre (NL-87) batch having good credential and majority of the Nagas would prefer him to hold the CS’ post “without discrimination and bias,” it said.
In addition, when the Nagas are passing through a crucial political settlement, it is of paramount importance to have a Naga CS at the helm of state bureaucracy, it added.
Thong’s juniors who may fall in the panel list are Rajiv Bansal, IAS (NL-1988 batch) who is on central deputation; present chief secretary Temjen Toy IAS (NL-89 batch) who is away on medical treatment; Joyti Kailash IAS (NL-1990 batch) who is presently posted as ACS & Resident Commissioner, Nagaland House Delhi; Sentiyanger Imchen IAS; and Jan E Alam IAS, the current chief secretary, it informed.
Further, the NPRAAF urged the government to examine the matter properly and take just decision in all fairness, without flouting conventional norms of seniority, while appointing the chief secretary this time.
Unfair appointment would set a wrong precedence for the future government, and demoralize the state bureaucracy as well as the sincere government servants, NPRAAF said.
As such, it requested the state Government to consider the appeal seriously and act justifiably, putting the matter to rest instead of dragging it further.
