Delay by MHA put Meghalaya govt in quandary over DGP appointment

Shillong, Nov 21:  Meghalaya government is in tangle as it cannot decide on who should be appointed as the new state Director General of Police (DGP) since the ministry of home affairs has not given its reponse to the letter written by the state government  requesting for the release of the Nagaland DGP (Prisons) B Kezo who is on deputation  to Nagaland  so that he could take over as the state DGP.

Nagaland chief secretary had written to his counterpart in Meghalaya expressing inability of the Nagaland government to release Kezo so that he could takeover as the Meghalaya DGP. The contention of the Meghalaya government however is that since Kezo is an officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre the Nagland is not the cadre controlling authority and hence cannot decide on whether to release Kezo or not.

Meghalaya government had, therefore, requested the union home ministry, which is the cadre controlling authority, for giving the necessary direction for the recall of Kezo who has gone on deputation  to Nagaland.

However the union home ministry has not responded to the letter of the Meghalaya government putting the latter in a quandary since it has not been able to appoint a full-fledged DGP. Additional DGP Rajiv Mehta- who has been appointed as the  Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau in Delhi – has been officiating as an acting DGP.

Because of the delay in the reponse of the union home ministry, the Meghalaya government is stuck and the stalemate in the appointment of the new DGP after N Ramachandran retired continues.

A senior officer in the home department said, “ Now even if the Meghalaya government wants to appoint another officer as the DGP instead of Kezo it cannot do.” He said if the government goes ahead and appoint another officer as the DGP, it would be embarrashing for both the state government and the union home ministry if the latter clears the appointment of Kezo as Meghalaya DGP.

The home departtment official, therefore, hoped that the union home ministry gives it reply to Meghalaya government letter as early as possible so that the stalemate in the appointment of the state DGP ends. –By Our Reporter