Imphal, May 26: With Opposition MLAs Dr Nimaichand Luwang and O Joy Singh taking the Government to task over the appointment of 144 employees in the Power Department on the sly, it was decided during the Assembly session today that the two MLAs along with the Power Minister will study the files at the Speaker's room tomorrow.

Basing his arguments on a report filed by The Sangai Express sometime back, Dr Nimaichand Luwang moved a short duration discussion motion in the Assembly today and took the Government to task over the alleged appointment of 144 work charge employees in the Electricity Department and two contract employees in the Tribal Development Department.

Moving the motion, Dr Luwang acknowledged that the Government admitted the mistake in appointing the 144 employees and duly cancelled their appointments.

However what action has been taken up against the officials involved in the appointment under the Manipur Public Servant Personnel Liability Act, is the moot point said Dr Luwang.

The MLA further said that he has received reports that there were some relatives of the Chief Engineer and an SO amongst the 144 employees appointed on the sly.

Asserting that the Government is trying to give a quiet burial to the fake appointment uproar in the Education Department, Dr Luwang said that there is no transparency at all and demanded that a full list be provided to him in connection with the appointment of 144 employees in the Electricity Department.

Joining in the discussion, MLA O Joy questioned whether the appointments were effected according to rules or not.

He also questioned what the Government machineries have done so far in connection with the issue.

FPM MLA Salam Ibohal said that the discussion would have been much better if only the Chief Minister was present and added that since he is out of station, the Chief Minister in charge should provide the answers on how the 144 were appointed in the first place.

MLA L Ibomcha suggested that a House Committee be formed to investigate the matter and to submit its report within one month time.

Replying to the volley of charges from the Opposition bench, Power Minister Francis Ngajokpa said that since the appointments were effected wrongly, the Government has cancelled the appointment orders.

There was no consent of the Cabinet for the appointment, he admitted and added that no one turned up for the verification drive called by the DCs and SPs.

Explaining the series of events, Ngajokpa said that as per an order from the high Court and Industrial Tribunal, the Electricity Dept was asked to start the verification process from April 6 for the employees who were retrenched from service.

The appointment order was issued on April 10, said the Minister and added that since anomalies were found in the whole process, the appointment order was cancelled the next day.

The Minister also admitted that the Government committed some mistakes in effecting the appointment of the 144 employees.

Not at all satisfied, O Joy said that the mere cancellation of the appointment order is no enough and demanded that an inquiry be conducted by the police and the guilty penalised.

The conduct of the Government is unethical, he maintained.

Dr Luwang also chipped in and said that the whole process is totally against the law.

Chief Minister in charge Th Debendra said that the appointment order of April 10 was cancelled on April 15 itself and added that verification is needed and urged all to wait for some time.

MLA C Doungel suggested that the discussion centre around what action has been taken up by the Government.

After a prolonged discussion it was agreed that all the relevant files will be studied at the Speaker's room in the presence of the Power Minister, two MLAs and other officials tomorrow at 1 pm.

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