Recently formed and Dimapur-based Central Naga Tribal Council (CNTC) has asked the state government to clarify on the matter regarding appointment of retired chief secretary Lalthara, as senior principal secretary and advisor to the chief minister.
CNTC vice president Hokiye Yeptho and general secretary Imtinochet drew their attention on the notification which stated that appointee would function as the bureaucratic head of the chief minister’s office and also as advisor to the chief minister in all matters of governance and security besides as a permanent invitee in all cabinet meetings.
They said the notification appeared to be in “direct contradiction” of laid down procedures since an incumbent chief secretary normally acted as the cabinet secretary besides being head of the bureaucracy. They said the notification confused people as to who was the bureaucratic head and cabinet secretary.
Central Naga Tribal Council therefore asked the government to inform as to whether the new appointment was as per norms and procedures since a chief secretary exists ; whether the incumbent chief secretary was “incapable” of being the bureaucratic head as well as cabinet secretary and whether the former additional chief secretary to the CM who had been relieved of charge “was inefficient”?
CNTC opined that when there were sufficient competent in service officers, such appointment of retired official to such high post would only send the wrong message.
In addition, CNTC felt that the appointment not only affected the state exchequer but also resulted in dilution of power and therefore urged upon the state government to rectify the matter in the “best interest of the state”.
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