Neiphiu Rio
File photo: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio

The anti-corruption watchdog – Action Committee Against Unabated Corruption (ACAUT) Nagaland on Tuesday  submitted a memorandum to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio requesting him to appoint Lokayukta in the State at the earliest.

It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court on July 10 last granted three months to the States, including Nagaland, to appoint their respective Lokayukta by October 10, 2018.

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In the memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Rio, ACAUT chairman Tia Longchar, co-chairman Simon Kelio and secretary Hetoi Chishi stated that Lokayukta would go a long way in curbing corruption, bring about transparency in the system, make administrative machinery citizen-friendly and establish the rule of law.

ACAUT Nagaland through the memorandum hoped that the Rio-led Government, which is committed to bring transparency and accountability in governance, would not miss the opportunity of implementing the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017 with immediate effect.

While pointing out that the Nagaland Government had in April 2018 filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court stating that the process for appointment of Lokayukta was on, the ACAUT said no appointment has been made by the Nagaland Government.

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The ACAUT leadership also reportedly suggested the State Government not to wait for the Supreme Court deadline and take proper steps to appoint Lokayukta in Nagaland.

The Nagaland Governor had given assent to the Nagaland Lokayukta Act, 2017 on December 21 last year after which the Nagaland Gazette issued a notification publishing the Act for general information on January 31, 2018. However, till date the Act has not been implemented.

The ACAUT also reportedly recalled how the mammoth rally under its aegis at Kohima in 2014 had adopted a public resolution demanding passing of Lokayukta Bill and the following year, ‘Walk Against Corruption’ was taken out where over 70 volunteers, led by ACAUT leaders, walked from Dimapur to Kohima to submit a representation to then Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang demanding passing of the Lokayukta Bill in the Assembly of the State.

The organisation also reminded the Nagaland Chief Minister that his party, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) “campaigned with the promise to change and reform.”