Appointment of driver sans approval of State Govt ; LDA asked to cancel appointment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 01 2015:
In a rare case of its kind, the State Vigilance Commission has recommended cancellation of appointment order of one driver of the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) who was reportedly appointed with due approval of the Chief Minister who is also the Chairman of LDA.
A well placed source informed that 17 drivers of heavy vehicles/machinery were appointed as Muster Roll employees in LDA in 2011 with due approval of the LDA Chairman and their service period was extended from time to time.
Investigation by the State Vigilance Commission revealed that the 17 drivers were appointed after obtaining permission of the Chief Minister.
According to Section 14(2) of the Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act 2000, recruitment of officers and staff in LDA should be done with due approval of the State Government.
But no such approval was obtained when the 17 drivers were appointed.
The appointment lacks authenticity as it was done with the knowledge of the Chief Minister alone without approval of the State Government which is mandatory according to the Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act, observed the commission.
One K Rajen of Ningthoukhong ward No 12 is one of the 17 drivers to be appointed in LDA as drivers.
But investigation by the Vigilance Commission found that he was also serving as driver of Ningthoukhong Municipal Council.
Taking serious note of the fact that Rajen is working at two different offices, the Vigilance Commission has recommended the LDA Project Director to cancel his appointment order.
The commission further recommended the Ningthoukhong Municipal Council to cancel the appointment order of K Rajen as a driver.