Aizawl, Mar 11 : State Environment and Forest Minister H Rohluna has been accused of applying underhand tactics to ensure that his 'favourite' candidate gets a job in his department.
Anti-corruption watchdog Prism, in a written complaint to the chief minister today, stated that appointment of a candidate for a forest guard had been annulled to make room for another candidate, allegedly at the behest of the minister.
According to Prism, K Biakmuana, son of Thangkhanliana, of Teikhang village in Champhai district was selected by a selection committee of the department for the post of forest guard on contract basis. The appointment, as mentioned in an official notification dated November 26, 2010, was made through assessment of their conduct.
Biakmuana, whose roll number was 861, was placed in serial number 124.
However, in a fresh order issued by PCCF office on February 1, 2010, the name of Biakmuana miraculously disappeared and a new name Rebecca Hmingchungnungi, daughter of Lalhmangaiha, of Ramthar Veng, Aizawl, cropped up on serial number 124.
"When a disgruntled Biakmuana inquired about this, the forest department officials told him that his name had been mistakenly entered in the appointment order because there were two candidates having the same roll number 861, 861 (A) and 861 (B)," Prism said, adding, "This was a lame excuse to drop Biakmuana and appoint Rebecca on his place".
There was no mention of roll number 861 (A) or 861 (B) in the admit card of Biakmuana, and it was just 861 in the admit card, scanned copy of which was provided to the press by Prism.
Moreover, it was clear from the application form that Rebecca applied for the post of forester, and not that of a forest guard.
''To make the matter worse, the name of Rebecca Hmingchungnungi is not found in the electoral roll of Ramthar Veng, which may indicate that she is not existed or under-aged,'' Prism’s letter said.
The alleged irregularity had been published in some local newspapers on February 12 where the health minister was quoted as saying that he recommended Rebecca.
As a written complaint submitted to the minister on February 20 proved futile, Prism said it wrote to the chief minister demanding him to make things right.
163 forest guards have been appointed on contract basis for five years under ‘preservation and management of forest’ for which the 13th Finance Commission had sanctioned Rs 2,140 lakh.
0 comments:
Post a Comment