Nagaland Lokayukta Orders Probe Against Deputy CM Y Patton for “Misuse of Power”

Kohima, February 21, 2020:

The Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton has landed in the soup after allegations of “misuse of power” in the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).

The Nagaland Lokayukta has ordered a “preliminary enquiry” into the charges against the Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, Y Patton on the basis of allegations by the Nagaland Lokayukta Police Establishment.

Vicca S Aye, a former president of the Sumi Students’ Union, had filed the complaint alleging him of offering help to NPSC candidates at the interview stage.

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Patton has been charged with involvement “in rampant abuse of administrative discretion and favoritism interfering the normal administrative functioning of the Police Department.” The complainant has also pointed out 1135 appointments made in the Nagaland Police department without advertising.

The Nagaland Lokayukta, on the basis of the complaints received, has directed the Coordinating Officer/Inspector to register a preliminary inquiry to be conducted by the higher authority /functionary, i.e. the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio.

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It has also directed the accused, Deputy CM Y Patton to file his reply to the allegations filed by the complainant. It needs mention here that Justice Uma Nath Singh, Nagaland Lokayukta, in the order, said, “I also direct, in terms of Section 35 of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act 2017, that the Nagaland Police, in particular the Commisiioner of Police, Dimapur, shall ensure the protection of the complainant who comes in the category of “Whistle Blower”, failing which, necessary legal consequence shall follow against the authority responsible for such protection.”

Scams of the ones exercising their powers have often revealed the faulty system of government examinations and the appointment thereof. While the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) had shaken the state with preferential and corruption factors some time ago, the latest possible scam relating the NPSC and the Deputy CM of Nagaland has been doing the rounds.

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Recently, Nagaland’s civil service aspirants and a students’ union had written to Governor RN Ravi to take action against the Deputy CM for claiming to have manipulated interviews of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).

They had also asked NPSC Chairman T.S. Angami to resign on moral grounds since “the unemployed youth of Nagaland have been studying hard to clear the competitive exam only to learn it is the Deputy CM who decides the result”. However, the Deputy CM had denied all the allegations

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