An official communiqué issued by Nagaland Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha says all police check gates except the existing interstate check gates would be closed forthwith. Tthe check gates set up by other departments including Municipal and Town Councils should immediately be closed throughout Nagaland state.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
In order to curb the menace of illegal collection of money from vehicles on the roads traversing through various checkgates within the state of Nagaland, government of Nagaland on Thursday has issued another fresh directives after it was reported of the alleged “illegal collections” from organizations, groups, private individuals and the government agencies lately.
In light of the reports and with a view to prevent and also to curb the “illegal collections” from the vehicles by any entity or individual, an order to be adhered was issued.
According to an official communiqué issued by Nagaland Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha, all police check gates except the existing interstate check gates would be closed forthwith. The check gates set up by other departments including Municipal and Town Councils should immediately be closed throughout Nagaland state.
However, an exceptional case for the interstate check gates was notified in functioning till May 31 and beyond the grace period it has to function only after obtaining a “specific approval” of the Nagaland home department while also adding that if anywhere in the state a check gate is set up or to function by any organization, group or private individual, it would be removed.
Adding that in the event of additional “inter or intra” district check gates required for unavoidable reasons by any department including the police in any part of the state, it was communicated that the matter should be referred through the AHODs/HODs concerned with justifications to the home department for consideration and only after getting prior approval of the government, the check gate would be set up by the department concerned.
Also informing that the concerned department (s) after closing the check gate (s) at any location in compliance of the order shall dismantle and completely remove any temporary structure/building standing at the location used and being used by it so as to obviate the possibility of “anyone else” misusing the structure/space left behind for “illegal collections purposes”, the Nagaland government directives have informed the respective deputy commissioners of the districts in the state to constitute an “inspection team comprising of ADC (Hq), ASP/ADCP, District Transport Officer (DTO) and the District Public Relation Officers (DPROs) who would be responsible for ensuring that there is (are) no check gate (s) functional on any road in the district in “violation” of the order.
“The team will move with a section strength force to be provided by the respective SP/DCP, and regularly conduct surprise inspections to check if any unauthorized check gate is functional, and in the event of such gate being found including by private groups, individuals, all the persons manning the gates shall be prosecuted under Section 188 and 384 of the IPC,” stated the communiqué.
Maintaining that disciplinary proceedings would also be initiated by the department concerned against the government servants found involved (if any), further prompt steps would also be initiated to dismantle and remove the unauthorized check gates put up by any department, local authority or any organization, stated the communiqué.
Meanwhile, the communiqué from the home department, Kohima, Nagaland, added that:
* The Inspection Team shall also conduct comprehensive inspections of the functioning of the duly permitted check gates to satisfy themselves that no illegal collection of money is taking place. In the event of any illegal activity found, the matter shall be immediately brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner concerned who shall forthwith submit a report to the Home Department through the Commissioner, Nagaland with his views.
Further, the head of the office concerned in the district shall take penal action against the erring employees under the relevant sections of law besides initiation of disciplinary proceedings.
* The person in charge of any check gate shall ensure that except the government employees detailed by the department, no other private individual is present at any point of time in and around the premises/structure being used for the purposes of check gate. The presence of any unauthorized person/group at or near the check gate shall be considered as sufficient proof of everyone colluding for illegal collection of money and action as per law shall be taken against everyone.
* The Inspection Team shall submit detailed reports of every inspection being made by it to the Deputy Commissioner, for perusal and for taking action as required. Further, the Deputy Commissioner through the DPRO will ensure that the observations and findings of the Inspection Team, and the actions taken, if any, are given wide publicity.
* The Home Department from time to time will also be sending team of officers from the Secretariat to inspect the check gates. The Department concerned may also regularly send their officers to inspect the check gates and submit reports to the Home Department.
* The PHQ shall set up a control room to be manned on 24×7 basis, and share widely, the contact mobile number with whatsapp facility, and an email ID, inviting people without requiring the person concerned to reveal his/her identity if he/she so desires, to share any report/information or make a complaint regarding illegal collection of money from the vehicles at any check gate or at other location in the State, and the control room, which should be manned by sufficient personnel headed by a senior officer shall, besides passing on the information/complaint to the Inspection Team of the district, also give immediate further instructions for taking appropriate actions. A fortnightly report of the calls received and the action taken by the control room shall be made available to the Home Department for perusal.
* In case of any information received of a vehicle which needs to be checked/inspected because of it being suspected of carrying illegal items, or if there is any contravention of any law/rule/regulation, or it has evaded paying any charges/fee/tax needed to be to paid to the Government, or for any other sufficiently good reasons, the Department officials concerned may immediately contact the Inspection Team of the District concerned and jointly carry out the necessary checks on the vehicle and take other action as necessary. 13. The PWD Department shall put up prominent signages in local dialects/ English and Hindi at every check gate/point declaring that no payment other than required by any law/rule/provision, if applicable, shall be made and that for such payments a proper receipt will be given. The contact number of control room in PHQ shall be displayed prominently on the signages. The signages shall be erected and placed in such a way that they are prominently readable from a distance in day and night.
* The deputy commissioner shall obtain regular reports from the inspection team in the district and on 1st to 15th of every month submit a detailed report to the home department through the Commissioner, Nagaland, and shall certify the following:-
(a) Regular inspections are being carried out by the Inspection Team throughout the district to ensure complete compliance to this order.
(b) That no unauthorized check gate is functional in any part of the district.
(c) At the permitted check gates, detailed inspection and thorough inquiries have been made, and there are no cases of illegal collection of money by anyone at such gates.