Friday, June 29, 2012

Converting 'lies' to 'truth' – Yeah Its Possible in Democracy

By: Rinku Khumukcham
Imphal, 29 June, 2012
Passing of motion of thanks to the governor’s address delivered on the first sitting of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly session by the members of the house on June 28, 2012, without much debate between the treasury and opposition benches shows clear message about the credibility of the Okram Ibobi Singh’s administrations.  The award conferred on to his government by India Today group as the best ‘improved state’ no more creates doubt to the credibility of the largest media organization of the nation.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

My worries in filing stories about Assembly Session

Rinku Khumukcham,
Imphal 27 June, 2012

The greatest challenge in my entire career as journalist has been reporting the assembly proceeding particularly during sessions of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. It is not because I am not aware on how to report or edit news, but because senior colleagues in the field had warned me about the unwanted consequences that may occurred during the course of filing stories about the proceedings.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Change of Guard in the state police top post


 Yumnam Joykumar returns as Director General of Police

By: Rinku Khukcham
Imphal June 22, 2012: Former Director General of Police Yumnam Joykumar has been once more appointed as the Director General of Manipur Police replacing Ratnakar Baral. Baral who replaced Joykumar has now been assigned as Officer on Special Duty.

In an order issue by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Personnel Division) MK Das, IPS, (MT:77) who hold the post of OSD Home has now been given as ADGP (Home Guard/Prison) in his present grade pay. Ratnakar Baral who had been assigned as OSD (Home) will also enjoy the present grade pay. The order further said that ADGP (Home Guard) & ADGP (AP/Trg) will hold the post of ADGP (AP/Trg) only and L.K Haoip IPS (MTMD : 92) IGP (AP/Trg/Prov) has been transferred as IGP (AP/Trg/Prov) & MD/MPHC in addition.
Mentioned may be made that  Joykumar (MT:76, IPS) was replaced by Ratnakar Baral on January 5 this year as according to the directives of the Election commission of India. However, the matter of appointing Baral as the DGP, a 1982 IPS cadre has been questioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs as the state government has reportedly violated the procedures for appointment of DGP. An intimation of the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the state government to review the appointment as 5 more IPS cadre senior to him were denied the right. Following the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a review screening committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary DS Poonia had roll back the decision for DGP pay scale. The review of the DGP pay scale granted to Ratnakar was challenged to the Central Administrative Tribunal Guwahati and the Tribunal stayed the government order.  

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Imphal - ‘City Of Garbage’


A scene of Kwairamband Keithel 
Despite repeated assurances and promises by the State government, hygiene and sanitation of Imphal city has failed to improve once again. Commuters in Khwairamband keithel area fear the outbreak of highly communicable diseases from the mess piled up at the roadsides. Besides, odour from the sanitary sewage overflow of the Sulabh public toilet has ruined the beauty of foot paths in Kwairamband Keithel area as people are disturbed by the unbearable smells. ISTV News Anchor Dhanya writes about the present condition of Imphal city.

      Imphal city is famed for a lot of things, bustling marketplaces, broad main roads and shady tree-lined avenues being some of them. However the city is fast earning a notorious reputation as a city of garbage. An all-too familiar sight in marketplaces and roadsides, garbage is becoming a menace which seems to be getting out of control. One sees rotten and discarded vegetable matter, animal refuse and plastic wastes piled up outside nearly every busy spot in the capital city. One can never be too careful while walking on the footpaths, and pedestrians walking gingerly on the footpaths is a common sight in market places.

Garbage piled up in Kwairamband Keithel
The famed Khwairambandh Keithel or Ima Markets seem to be most affected by garbage accumulation. Though shopping here is a profitable and pleasurable exercise, customers are often put out by the tons of refuse piled up outside the premises and the stench emanating from public toilets. Garbage is not only an eyesore; it is also a storehouse of deadly communicable diseases which could be spread at unbelievable speeds by the millions of flies and other vectors hovering around. 

Though many a cleanup campaign has been initiated with great fanfare by the state govt, the scene hardly, if ever, changes. The Zero Garbage campaign implemented by the IMC last year was one such, which loftily aimed to make Imphal a sparkling clean city. Though it started off with great zeal, it is clearly seen that it has not achieved its aims. NGOs and other orgs too make attempts at cleaning. However a lot remains to be done. The burning question is-who will do it and when?
Blaming the authorities alone is not a great idea, as this problem calls for an equal, if not greater measure of public cooperation with the authorities. It is observed that the vendors at the marketplaces are least bothered by the problem of piled-up garbage and contribute to it substantially. Houses too do not always cooperate in the segregation of degradable wastes from the non-degradable. This mindset needs to change and all concerned need to work hand in hand towards a clean and safe Imphal city. Awareness has to be spread and campaigns involving both the authorities and the public in equal measure worked out. Such measures are the need, not of tomorrow or the day after or the unseen future, but of TODAY, of NOW!


Friday, June 8, 2012

Central Administrative Tribunal stays state government order to reduce DGP Ratnakar Baral’s pay

By- Rinku Khumukcham
Imphal June 8, 2012: 
Credibility of the state government top functionaries has landed in frying pan as a decision made by them regarding the appointment of 6 IPS officers to the rank and scale of DGP have to be reviewed for three times according to the interference of the higher authorities.
 After the state government was compelled to review its decision over the appointment of the six IPS officers to the rank and scale of DGP as according to the directives of the Union Ministry for Home affairs, the Central Administrative Tribunal, Guwahati bench has order to stay the decision of the state government review screening committee meeting for degrading of DGP Ratnakar Baral.
In an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Guwahati Bench, the cancellation of the DGP pay from Ratnakar Baral was stayed until the state government proof legal validity of the decision made by them.
Ratnakar was appointed as the DGP of the Manipur after replacing the then DGP Y. Joykumar on Jan. 5 this year after the Election Commission of India has directed the state government to comply with their order. The procedure followed by the state government in selecting Baral to the top cop post was however turn out to be the violation of the Supreme Court ruling over the appointment of DGP. According to the ruling the DGP was to be selected from among the three senior most top IPS officers of the state.
The Union Ministry for Home Affairs intervene the matter and directed the state government to review the decision. The review committee meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary DS Poonia later cancelled the order for promotion of the 6 IPS cadre from the rank and scales of the DGP. This again was stayed by the Central Administrative Tribunal Guwahati Bench on the ground that the state government authority had failed to understand the directives of the union home ministry.
 The series of breach of protocol by state government authorities over the appointment of DGP and ex-cadre post has been following by the ISTV news from the beginning. The question right now is that when the Home Minister of the state G Gaikhangam has promised to streamline the police force into a discipline force, the appointment of the top post in the police force still remain a mess due to lack of seriousness among the top bureaucrats. 

Saturday, June 2, 2012

State Govt. Reviews appointment of 6 IPS officers to the rank and scale of DGP


New DGP likely on Monday

By : Rinku Khumukcham

Imphal June 2, 2012: Following the directives of the Union Home Ministry, the state government has taken a U-turn decision to the appointment of the 6 IPS officers to the rank and scale of Director General of Police. Records available with the ISTV says that the decision for appointment of the 6 IPS officers to the rank and scale of Director General of Police has been roll back by a decision of the review screening committee meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary DS Poonia. The decision is once more in the limelight as it is an insult to the career of the IPS officers. 
According to source, the meeting of the review screening committee, discussed in dept about the directives of the Union Home Ministry regarding the creation of the ex-cadre post of DGP. 
ISTV News had brought to the limelight about the intervention of the Ministry of Home Affairs to the appointment of six IPS officers to the rank and scale of DGP. We have also reported some of the content of the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs which says - The appointment of the 6 IPS officers to the rank and scale DGP is the violation of the Rule 11(7) of the IPS Pay Rules, 2007 as the Performa promotion at DGP level is allowed in the ratio 1:1.
Union Home Ministry directives for immediate remedial action to the state government over the appointment of 6 IPS cadres to the rank and Scale of Director General of Police have compelled the state government to roll back their decision. The six IPS officers have been granted the grade and scale of DGP since January 5,  Which means they have enjoyed tha grade and scale for five months. The decision of the review screening committee meeting chaired by the chief secretary DS Poonia held on May 25 this year had failed to disclose on whether the pay enjoyed by the 6 IPS officers would be recovered from them or not. In this case a top bureaucrat officer of the state government who didn’t want to disclose his identity while commenting to ISTV said that – if the pay has been recovered from them then it is an insult to the IPS officers. The resolution of the meeting also did not mentioned about finding out the “wrongs” or perhaps "intentional manipulation" in making the important government decision.  
ISTV team is still continuing to find out whether an enquiry commission has been set up regarding the matter or not. Each IPS officers appointed to the grade and scale of DGP namely - MK Das, IPS 1977 batch, JC Dabas, IPS 1977 batch, Rajinder Kumar, IPS 1979 batch, Sahid Ahmad, IPS 1979 batch , Shri Khinya Ram, IPS 1981 batch and Shri Ratnakar Barral, IPS 1982 batch has been intimated to response if necessary before the state government take a final decision on the Review Screening Committee Meeting’s recommendations.
Following this, ISTV has also found out that the government will soon appoint a new DGP from among the three senior most Manipur Tripura batch IPS cadres either today or on Monday. Probable candidates for the top cop post are – former DGP Yumnam Joykumar, a 1976 IPS cadre,  MK Das, a 1977 batch IPS cadres and Rajinder Kumar, a 1979 batch IPS cadre. Rajinder Kumar is not in the state as he has been on central deputation. So, it is for certain that the government will now select either Yumnam Joykumar or MK Das to the top post.
ISTV however could not pin point the person who will hold the top post as the decision remains to the wisdom of the state government.
ISTV team has been following the development to the controversy surrounded over the appointment of the top cop post in the state and also the creation of ex cadre post. We had brought to the limelight about the appointment of 6 IPS cadre to the rank and scale of DGP as breach of protocol. 

Friday, June 1, 2012

Manipulation suspects to the appointment of State Top Cop


Union Home Ministry directs State Govt. to take up immediate remedial action
By Rinku Khumukcham
Imphal June 1, 2012: At the outset of the state home minister G Gaikhangam’s strong statement to streamline the state police force into a discipline force, a serious manipulation to the appointment of State Top Cop has been traced.
An official source says – appointment of Manipur-Tripura IPS cadre of 1982 batch Shri Ratnakar Baral as the successor of the then DGP Shri Y. Joykumar has seriously violated the Supreme Court verdict, which directs the state government to select the post of State Director General of Police from amongst the three senior most officers of the department who have been empanelled for promotion to that rank by the UPSC.
DGP Shri Y Joykumar was replaced by Shri Ratnakar Baral on January 5 this year as according to the directives of the Chief  Election Commissioner Shri SY Quraishi.
            One serious problem arises in the State police Department is the promotion of 6 more IPS Officers to the grade and scale of the Director General of Police. The appointment is the violation of the Rule 11(7) of the IPS Pay Rules, 2007. It says “Performa promotion at DGP level is allowed in the ratio 1:1.”
After Shri Ratnakar Barral, IPS  M:T cadre of 1982 batch had been appointed as the DGP of Manipur on Jan 5 this year, the State Government has given him pay scale of DGP.  4 other Manipur Tripura Cadre IPS Officers who are senior to him namely Shri JC Dabas, Shri Rajinder Kumar, Shri Sahid Ahmad and Shri Khinya Ram  has been promoted to the same Pay Scale by an order of the State Govt. dated 27th Jan 2012. And one more IPS Officer senior to Shri Barral, namely Shri MK Das also promoted to the same pay scale of DGP by a Govt. order dated 27th February 2012.
            The apex pay scale for Director General of Police is Rs 80,000 (Fixed). The State Government has given altogether 7 IPS Officers the same pay scale of the Director General of Police. They are: 
1.      Shri Y. Joykumar Singh, IPS 1976 batch,
2.      Shri MK Das, IPS 1977 batch,
3.      Shri JC Dabas, IPS 1977 batch,
4.      Shri Rajinder Kumar, IPS 1979 batch,
5.      Shri  Sahid Ahmad, IPS 1979 batch ,
6.      Shri Khinya Ram, IPS 1981 batch and
7.      Shri Ratnakar Barral, IPS 1982 batch.
Among them Shri JC Dabas recently retired and the three IPS officers Shri Rajinder Kumar, Sahid Ahmad and Khinya Ram are on Central deputation.
In a confidential letter sent to the State Government by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which is with us, it has been mention that promotion of the 6 IPS officers to the grade and scale of DGP is the complete violation of the Rule 11(7) of the IPS Pay Rule 2007.
On further investigation into this matter to find out what went wrong, it has been found out that the State Govt. has violated the Supreme Court’s judgment for selection of the Top Cop post. According to the ruling, the DGP of the State shall be selected by the State Government from amongst the three senior most officers of the Department who have been empanelled for promotion to that rank by the UPSC on the basis of their length of service, very good record and range of experience for heading the force.
When ECI directs the State Govt. for replacement of DGP Shri Y. Joykumar Singh during election time, the State Govt. authority had brought up the name of 5 provable IPS Officers including Shri R. Baral for the said post. It has also been found out that the name of Shri MK Das who is 2nd senior most IPS of the State has been excluded. Later, when Shri Baral was appointed for the top Cop Post, the other five IPS Cadre who are senior to him ultimately deserves the pay scale enjoyed by him.
It can also be noted that as according to the provision of the IPS Pay fourth amendment Rules, 2011 it is stated that, “ Provided that for the purpose of calculating the number of posts other than cadre posts in the DG grade in HAG+scale (RSs 75500- annual increment @ 3%-80,000) all cadre posts in this rank including DGP- Head of Police shall be taken in account.
Provided further that no ex- cadre post of DGP (Head of Police Force) in apex scale of Rs. 80,000/- shall be created.”
The appointment of Shri Ratnakar Baral and 5 other IPS officers to the grade and scale of Director General of Police in the IPS Apex Scale receives strong intervention from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. In intimation to the state, the Union Home Ministry directed to take up immediate remedial action and apprise this Ministry of the same.