IT News
Imphal, April 7:
The Manipur government, already infamous for granting service extensions to retired officials against legal norms, has now set a new precedent by appointing a diploma holder as Chief Engineer.
In contravention of established regulations, Laishram Saratchandra Singh from Sagolband Nepra Menjor Mamang Leikai was appointed Chief Engineer within the Education Engineering Wing of the Education Department, despite regulations that limit promotions for diploma holders to the rank of executive engineer.
The appointment of a Chief Engineer in an engineering department typically requires a candidate to hold an engineering degree rather than just a diploma. Therefore, this appointment blatantly disregards the rules and regulations governing such appointments.
According to a source, L. Saratchandra passed the associate membership examination, which is equivalent to a civil engineering degree in 2022, which is one and half years after he assumed the position of Chief Engineer-in-Charge. This sequence of events further highlights the irregularity and questionable nature of his appointment, raising concerns about adherence to legal and professional standards within the Manipur government.
L. Saratchandra Singh was appointed to the post of Superintending Engineer (SE) on deputation in the Education Engineering Wing of the Education S Department, on August 5, 2020, and then subsequently appointed as Chief Engineer-in-Charge on December 2, 2020.
To become a SE, one has to hold the post of EE in his parent department, but L. Satatchandra was never promoted to the substantive post of Executive Engineer in the Loktak Development Authority, Manipur, which is his parent department, and as such, appointing him to the post of Superintending Engineer and even in-charge, Chief Engineer in the Department of Education (S), Manipur, is against all norms of deputation, and the same is illegal.
Moreover, he is a close relative of the Joint Secretary-cum-Director of Education (S), Manipur, namely L. Nandakumar Singh, who issued his appointment order. This is a clear case of nepotism and corruption within the Department of Education in Manipur.
During a recent address, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh declared that individuals involved in bribery during appointments would face consequences. With concrete evidence surfacing regarding misconduct during L. Saratchandra’s appointment to the Education Engineering Wing of the Education Department, the public eagerly awaits whether Chief Minister Biren Singh will uphold his promise and hold the responsible government official accountable.
