Dimapur, September 16 (MExN): In a rare official action against graft, the Government of Nagaland has penalized a village council chairman for corruption, misuse of village funds, and has ‘disqualified’ him from selection as village council chairman for five years.
The Home department issued a notice today against one Yanpemo Tungoe, then chairman of the Phiro Village Council in Wokha district and the secretary of Village Development Board (VDB), unnamed in the notice.
Chief Secretary of Nagaland, Lalthara appended the notice. The notice said the deputy commissioner of Wokha found the said chairman and the then VDB secretary misused public funds of the council during their tenure. In an order dated January 22, 2009 the deputy commissioner directed Yanpemo Tungoe to deposit Rs. 15, 000 to the office of the deputy commissioner, failing which the said person would be liable to undergo simple imprisonment for five months.
The stated chairman, the notice said, complied with the order and deposited the said amount “thus attracting Section 16 (4) of the Nagaland Village and Area council Act, 1978.” The said provision states that a member of the village council found guilty of corruption, disloyalty or breach of council laws would be disqualified from being selected as, and from being, a member of the village council.
As provided by Section 17, the issue of his disqualification will be decided by the state government which shall be final, the Home department said.
From the records of the Guwhati High Court, the notice said, although the proceedings to remove Tungoe was not initiated as required under Section 16 (4), despite the deputy commissioner having found the chairman and the VDB secretary of misusing Rs. 30, 000 and were directed to deposit Rs. 15, 000 each, the fact remains that the case still is misuse of public funds and amounts to corruption attracting disqualification.
In exercise of powers, the state government has disqualified Yanpemo Tungoe from being selected as village council chairman of Phiro village for a period of five years from the date of this order issued.
The Home department issued a notice today against one Yanpemo Tungoe, then chairman of the Phiro Village Council in Wokha district and the secretary of Village Development Board (VDB), unnamed in the notice.
Chief Secretary of Nagaland, Lalthara appended the notice. The notice said the deputy commissioner of Wokha found the said chairman and the then VDB secretary misused public funds of the council during their tenure. In an order dated January 22, 2009 the deputy commissioner directed Yanpemo Tungoe to deposit Rs. 15, 000 to the office of the deputy commissioner, failing which the said person would be liable to undergo simple imprisonment for five months.
The stated chairman, the notice said, complied with the order and deposited the said amount “thus attracting Section 16 (4) of the Nagaland Village and Area council Act, 1978.” The said provision states that a member of the village council found guilty of corruption, disloyalty or breach of council laws would be disqualified from being selected as, and from being, a member of the village council.
As provided by Section 17, the issue of his disqualification will be decided by the state government which shall be final, the Home department said.
From the records of the Guwhati High Court, the notice said, although the proceedings to remove Tungoe was not initiated as required under Section 16 (4), despite the deputy commissioner having found the chairman and the VDB secretary of misusing Rs. 30, 000 and were directed to deposit Rs. 15, 000 each, the fact remains that the case still is misuse of public funds and amounts to corruption attracting disqualification.
In exercise of powers, the state government has disqualified Yanpemo Tungoe from being selected as village council chairman of Phiro village for a period of five years from the date of this order issued.
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