The Nagaland Lokayukta, Justice Uma Nath Singh, on Thursday, ordered a probe against Nagaland deputy chief minister Y. Patton.
Justice Singh, who is a former Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, issued the probe order on the basis of a complaint against Patton that he “proposed and offered to the candidates who qualify the written exams of NPSC to approach him for help at the interview stage”.
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The complaint has been lodged by Vicca S. Aye of Chekiye village in Dimapur.
The Nagaland Lokayukta ordered the coordinating officer/Inspector (Nagaland Lokayukta Police Establishment) to register a case for preliminary inquiry, to be conducted by the “chief minister of Nagaland, who shall submit his report on affidavit before the next date of hearing”.
As per the complainant, Y. Patton while serving as the minister for the home department during the past 7 years “had involved in rampant abuse of administrative discretion and favoritism interfering the normal administrative functioning of the police department”.
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The complainant also pointed out the “1,135 appointments made in the police department without advertising the said post”.
Through the order, the Nagaland Lokayukta directed deputy chief minister Y. Patton to file his reply on an affidavit to the allegations in the complaint.
The Nagaland Lokayukta in the order said: “The complaint is procedurally in order, the law has to take its course. Thus, I need to proceed as per provisions of Section 8 (1) (a); Section 10; Section 11, and Section 12 of the Nagaland Lokayukta Act 2017 by passing appropriate order(s).”
Justice Singh also directed that the “Nagaland Police, in particular the Commissioner 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.”
Here’s the order of the Nagaland Lokayukta:
