DIMAPUR, OCT 22 (MExN): The Nagaland Police Wireless Employees Association (NPWEA) on behalf of the show-caused employees of the Nagaland Police Telecommunication Organization (NPTO) has submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland detailing various grievances in regard to recruitment and general welfare concerns.
According to the memo signed by Tsuknung Aier, President and Kezalekho Sakhrie, Vice-President NPWEA, referring to two writ appeals pending disposal before the Guwahati High Court, the body stated that the court had decided that the police department could proceed with the recruitment test but that no order of appointment should be issued without prior permission of the said court. The body appealed the Governor’s intercession to reconsider the case and withdraw all discriminatory orders issued against the employees. Further stating it was an undeniable fact that all appointments in the NPTO have been made directly, if there was any prescribed procedure, then the same had never been followed. Further, declaring that if the government should alleged that the show-caused employees have been appointed illegally without following the prescribed recruitment procedure then all other personnel who have not been issued show-cause notices, have also been appointed illegally, the memo stated. It added that there were employees who have been rendering faithful services ranging from 5 to 11 years, some even having been promoted to the rank of Havildars, it was not fair to force them to undergo recruitment tests for fresh appointments.
Apart from others alleged anomalies, the memo also pointed out that the Havildars in the association were promoted to the said rank together with other non-show-caused Havildars by the same order. However, while the non-show-caused employees were deemed as legitimately appointed, the show-caused Havildars were declared as illegally appointed. It also added that the aggrieved employees were show-caused on the pretext of being excess appointees but according to the petitioners, subsequent to being issued show-cause notices, fresh and direct appointments through the ‘backdoor’ continued to be made in the NPTO despite standing order of the government not to effect fresh appointments.
It also made mention that the committee constituted to examine the case in question, had found 115 vacancies available in the NPTO and recommended all 440 show-caused employees to be made to compete for the said vacancies by facing a recruitment test. Subsequently, reliable information was received that the vacancies had risen to 180 excluding the posts held by the recent appointees on account of retirement and deaths in the NPTO, it stated. Meantime, the 11 NAP (IR) battalion was created which led to creation of more posts in the signal section of the said battalion so the petitioners represented to the Government that the above posts were available to accommodate all 437 (reduced from the original 440 owing to resignations) show-caused employees. In this regard, the memo stated, the IGP (Crime) also wrote to the DGP that there were overall 135 posts of different categories to be filled from the NPTO to solve the problem of excess appointments and an order was also issued not to make fresh appointments in the signal platoons of all battalions. However the government continued to make fresh appointments in the newly created 11 NAP (IR), the memo alleged adding that sufficient evidence would be produced if required.
