KOHIMA: The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has expressed disappointed over the "forced replacement" of Rupin Sharma as Director General of Police by one officer, who it said, was "much junior to him in service."
According to a release issued by the NPRAAF today, the forum met and submitted a Memorandum to the Governor of Nagaland on Friday, in which it sought the intervention of the Governor in the matter to ensure that the Government acts constitutionally following all sets of rules while appointing the new DGP in the state of Nagaland.
"The Center had refused to act based upon the letter of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary to bring in an outside state IPS cadre to be the new DGP of Nagaland, who has not qualified the criteria to be DGP, taking into consideration the immaculate track record of Rupin Sharma IPS until pressure was fully exerted to the Home Ministry Government of India by the (Nagaland) state government,"the memorandum stated.
The NPRAAF in the memorandum accused the state government of acting against the laws, saying, "The action of the state government is against the IPS (Regulation of Seniority) Rules, 1988 and against the wishes of the people of Nagaland who openly demanded his retention."
According to the anti-corruption Forum, the Nagaland state government's action is "against the constitution and an insult to the honest police officer who refused to bow down to Mantris and Babus for corruption. Such unethical action will demoralize the state police force and an honest public servant."
The NPRAAF called the attention of the Governor that "if Rupin Sharma IPS does not qualify the set criteria of 30 years to become DGP, then what criteria were followed to appoint the new DGP? Secondly, if Rupin Sharma DGP who is running 27 years in service of the Nation was appointed as a stop gap measure, where was the need again to appoint another young IPS as DGP who has put 20 years of service so do T. John Longkumer IPS who has put just 28 years of service."
Reminding Governor Acharya that he is the "custodian of the Constitution of India in the state of Nagaland," the NPRAAF sought his "intervention to ensure that your Government acts judiciously and constitutionally following all set of rules while appointing the new DGP in the state of Nagaland."
The NPRAAF also appealed the Nagaland government to "follow the set criteria and rule of 30 years of service in appointing the new DGP of Nagaland, if there is no choice, but to go ahead with more experienced in service than Rupin Sharma, otherwise it will be injustice."
The Forum also appealed "not bring in any police officer as DGP who does not qualify the criteria to become DGP as it will set wrong precedence."
According to the NPRAAF, the "wise intervention from your highest constitutional office of the state in tune with the standing Supreme Court Order, and in accordance to the rules of appointment for DGP, will instill people's faith and respect in Raj Bhavan," the release said.