Complaint lodged with Vigilance Dept against former Law officer
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 14 2025: A complaint has been filed with the Manipur State Vigilance Commission against Nungshitombi Athokpam, former Commissioner (Law) for alleged gross misconduct and exercising powers without legal authority.

She has been accused of functioning as the Joint Secretary of the MHRC, a post - the existence of which has been questioned and become controversial.

According to the complaint filed with the State Vigilance Commission, Nungshitombi Athokpam was the Commissioner (Law) from 2010 to 2018 .

Notably, this is not the first time that a complaint has been filed against her.

In March 2025, former Additional Superintendent of Police, Th Brinda had filed a report with the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Department seeking legal action against Athokpam Nungshitombi for alleged misuse of Rs 53.41 lakh between 2010 and 2017 .

Nungshitombi Athokpam was the DDO (Drawing and Disbursing Officer) of the MHRC from March 7, 2010 to December 20, 2018.Notably, during the period, the MHRC was non-functional in absence of a Chairperson.

Meanwhile, the complaint that has been filed by Advocate Okram Nutankumar Singh today said that a detailed, time-bound, and comprehensive vigilance inquiry into all aspects concerning the action of Nungshitombi Athokpam in relation to the office of the purported Joint Secretary, MHRC may be conducted by the Vigilance Commission.

The complaint said that on February 1, 2018, Nungshitombi Athokpam issued an official order, under her signature as Joint Secretary MHRC, appointing six individuals to various posts in the Commission.

The posts that were filled included one post of Stenographer Grade-III, one post of LDC, one post of driver, 2 posts of Peon and one post of Chowkidar-cum-Sweeper.

However, raising suspicion about the existence of the post of Joint Secretary, MHRC, in an RTI response recently, the Department of Personnel revealed that it "did not issue the appointment order of the then Joint Secretary, MHRC" .

"...as per record available in Department of Personnel, Manipur Secretariat, DP [Department of Personnel] did not issue the appointment of the then Joint Secretary, MHRC," said the Department in its reply on July 7 .

It further clarified that the Law and Legislative Affairs Department is the administrative Department of the MHRC.

Notably, an RTI application had sought information regarding the transfer and posting, and designation of Nungshitombi Athokpam, Commissioner (Law) between 2010 and 2018 .

"Nungshitombi Athokpam unlawfully exercised powers of Joint Secretary, MHRC despite not being appointed to the post, as already confirmed by response received under the RTI Act.

This amounts to serious misconduct, abuse of office, and unauthorised usurpation of public authority in violation of service rules and legal norms," said the complaint with the Vigilance Commission.

Her actions constitute criminal offences under IPC/BNS including impersonation of a public servant, forgery and criminal breach of trust, and must be dealt with accordingly.

An FIR must be registered immediately against her for investigation, it said.

The Vigilance Commission may investigate if Nungshitombi Athokpam was ever lawfully posted or appointed as Joint Secretary, MHRC, and whether such a post was ever created, sanctioned or notified during the period from 2010 to 2018 .

If it is proved that Nungshitombi Athokpam had exercised a public function without legal authorisation, she would attract Section 170 IPC/204 BNS (Personating a public servant), Section 166 IPC/ 198 BNS (Public servant disobeying law with intent to cause injury), Section 417 IPC/318 BNS (Cheating), Section 149 IPC/319 BNS (Cheating by Personation), Section 456 & 468 IPC/336 BNS (Forgery and forgery for the purpose of cheating) and Section 335 BNS (Making false documents), alleged the complaint.

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