IVA state unit for compliance of norms in appointing director
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 09 2024: Indian Veterinary Association (IVA), Manipur state branch has urged veterinary minister Khashim Vashum to fill up the post of director of the department of veterinary & animal husbandry from among the eligible senior officers while complying with the norms of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Service Rule, 1994 and the Fundamental Rules & Service Rules (FRSR) .

According to a reliable source, the IVA state unit convened a meeting on February 4 and resolved that the posts of joint director and director of the department should be appointed as per the existing rules and guidelines so that the department could function properly.

Copies of the resolution were also submitted to the minister concerned, chief secretary and secretary (veterinary & animal husbandry) and urged them to take up necessary steps to appoint the joint director and director posts at the earliest.

The source further informed that doctors working in veterinary & animal husbandry department are bound by the Manipur Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Sendee Rule, 1994.Minimum educational qualification for joining the service is bachelor of veterinary science & animal husbandry and this is clearly mentioned in the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984.The vacant post of director of the department has to be filled in by a joint director who has been in regular sendee for minimum of four years and holds post graduate or diploma certificate in veterinary and animal husbandry science discipline in addition.

As per the state cabinet decision taken on February 24, the service of director Dr Ng Ibotombi, whose tenure as director was extended for one year after attaining superannuation ended on February 29.With the service tenure of the incumbent director Dr Ng Ibotombi due to expire soon, joint director Ksh Sidarth sent a letter to the director (vigilance and anti-corruption) on February 8 to find out if there is any pending vigilance case against Dr Ng Ibotombi and reply for the same had already been returned.

Consequently, on February 22, the DP initiated official process for removing director (Dr Ng Ibotombi) and appoint a senior eligible officer as the director.

Accordingly, the DP on the same day initiated official process for appointment of the stemforemost joint director Dr RK Khogenrajit as the director in-charge.

But in complete contrast to what the DP had initiated, the state cabinet on February 24 decided to extend the service of Dr Ng Ibotombi for one more year.

As per the Manipur Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Service Rule, 1994, the age of superannuation of doctors working in veterinary service is 62 years.

As per Rule No.56 of FRSR, the service of an employee could be extended by the government if required but the extension of service must be purely on scientific expertise of the person and cannot hold the post of administrative or head of department.

The source further informed that the then commissioner (veterinary & animal husbandry) Gyan Prakash on February 7, 2020 issued an order for promotion of 10 officers as the post of joint director/MVS-Grade-II .

As per the order, Dr RK Khogenrajit remains as the seniormost joint director just after the incumbent director Dr Ng Ibotombi after four joint directors have retired.

Dr RK Khogenrajit completed four years in service as the joint director on February 6,2024 and he is eligible to hold the post of director (veterinary & animal husbandry).

As per the office memorandum issued by the department of personnel & administrative reforms (DP) on March 9, 2021, a person should have vigilance integrity clearance and no pending departmental enquiry in becoming regular director or director in-charge of a department.

However, it is said that Dr Ng Ibotombi has pending departmental enquiry against him regarding the appointment of managing director of Manipur Milk Producers Co-operative Union Limited illegally and misappropriation of the union's fund for implementation of the National Programme for Dairy Development.

The matter was even discussed in the just concluded 12th Manipur Legislative Session on March 1 and veterinary minister Khasim Vashum submitted a report of the enquiry committee.

Nevertheless, completion of the departmental enquiry or its continuance will have to be decided by the House in the next session.

According to the source, Dr Ng Ibotombi became regular a joint director on February 7, 2020 and he must hold the post till February 6, 2024 to be eligible for appointment as the director as per the existing service rules.

However, the state cabinet made him regular director on December 13, 2023 as one-time relaxation.

Meanwhile, some veterinary doctors shave expressed strong displeasure over one-time service relaxation for Dr Ng Ibotombi to become the regular director while his service tenure did not lapse and termed the state cabinet's decision as partisan.

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