The most damning revelation pertains to the JNMDA Director in-charge’s alleged manipulation of his age. Documents reveal three conflicting dates of birth
TFM Report
A storm of controversy has engulfed the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA), a constituent unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, following explosive allegations of age fraud, dual passports, and procedural irregularities against its current Director in-charge.
A formal complaint lodged by an artiste and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Yumnam Bhumeshwor Singh, backed by RTI documents, has exposed a web of discrepancies, prompting demands for immediate intervention by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Of Triple Dates of Birth and Dual Passports
The most damning revelation pertains to the Director in-charge’s alleged manipulation of his age. Documents reveal three conflicting dates of birth:
- August 1, 1970 (National Badminton Tournament certificate).
- August 1, 1975 (Passport issued in 2013).
- March 1, 1982 (Academic records and 2022 passport).
Shockingly, the Director in-charge allegedly secured two Indian passports: one in 2013 (DOB: 1975) and another in November 2022 (DOB: 1982). The Central Passport Vigilance Division flagged the discrepancy, leading to the cancellation of his August 2022 foreign trip sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Legal experts confirm that possessing multiple birth certificates and passports violates Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery), raising questions about how authorities permitted such irregularities.
Appointment Without Order
The Director in-charge’s ascent to official position is mired in opacity. RTI replies confirm he joined JNMDA as a contract dancer in December 2005 “without an appointment order”—probably a first in the institution’s 60-year history. An office order from November 9, 2005, merely extended his contract, citing a pay scale of ₹5,000–8,000. Notably, his service record lists his date of joining as December 1, 2005, but an RTI response admits, “There is no appointment order.” Senior artists allege his appointment bypassed norms, superseding other qualified Gurus.
While JNMDA claims that the Director in-charge holds a Master’s degree (awarded in 2019) in Manipuri from Manipur University, his initial appointment as a dancer in 2005 required only a Class XII pass. RTI responses reveal his highest qualification at the time was a 1992 HSLC (Class X) certificate.
Alleged Abuse of Power, Institutional Lapses
Artistes accuse the Director in-charge of bad conduct, including the suspension of a senior Guru (his own mentor) over a “trivial matter.” The Guru was reinstated only after Sangeet Natak Akademi intervened. Staff records further show the Director in-charge’s date of birth as March 1, 1982, contradicting his earlier claims.
RTI documents procured by Yumnam Bhumeshwor Singh unearths glaring inconsistencies:
– The Badminton Association of India (BAI) provided the Director in-charge’s 1970 DOB certificate, conflicting with JNMDA’s 1982 records.
– No FIR was filed for “lost files”, despite claims of sabotage.
– The 2020 DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee) for the Director in-charge’s promotion was chaired by officials whose terms had expired, violating Sangeet Natak Akademi norms.
Artistes Demand CM’s Intervention
In their plea to the CM, the award winning artiste accused the Director in-charge as a “hypocrite, and habitual liar,” warning that his continued leadership jeopardizes Manipur’s cultural legacy.
His plea centres on initiating an official probe into age-fraud and passport forgery; making an audit of the Director in-charge’s academic credentials and suspending him till the investigation is over.
As Manipur’s cultural community awaits justice, this scandal underscores deeper rot in bureaucratic appointments and accountability. For an institution tasked with preserving dance heritage, the irony is stark: its director stands accused of dancing around the truth.
(The information in this report is based on the complaint letter, RTI replies, and relevant documents.)