Two cops suspended for indiscipline

GANGTOK, 14 Sept: Two personnel of the Sikkim Police have been suspended on charges of indiscipline. In fact, in what may come as a shocker to the general public, two groups, one from the Sadar thana and the other from the Reserve Lines, were involved in a distasteful clash last week.
What is more disturbing is that the aggression continued the following day and as informed, several of those involved had to also be taken to the STNM Hospital for medical treatment. There are also murmurs of a senior ranked police officer being involved.
The two suspended police personnel include a Home Guard from the Sadar police station and a Constable from the Reserve Lines. While confirming their suspension DIG (Range), V Vinayak refused to divulge the names of the police personnel.
However he stated that the Sikkim Police and those in authority were taking a very serious view of the incident. “There is an enquiry underway and strict action will be taken against those who are found to have been involved in the incident”, stated the DIG.
It is informed that around Thursday last week, a Home Guard from the Sadar police station on night patrol duty was roughed up by personnel from the Reserve Lines at the over-bridge at Titanic park, Gangtok late in the night. The personnel from the Reserve Lines are alleged to have been creating a scene when the Home Guard intervened. Allegedly, they then set upon the Home Guard.
Unconfirmed reports also suggest that later the Home Guard and another personnel from the Sadar was called to the police headquarters and there in the chamber of a senior officer, were again attacked. However the DIG, Range denied the involvement of any senior level police official; he also refused to confirm the sequence of events and the number of police personnel involved.

Assembly should discuss ‘real issues’: Nakul Das Rai

GANGTOK, 01 July: Former Lok Sabha MP, Nakul Das Rai, contended that instead of personal attacks and pointless debates, the assembly sessions should deliberate and discuss the real issues of the state. He alleged that instead of responding to issues raised by Burtuk MLA, PS Tamang, the other legislators resorted to personal attacks and unnecessary debate.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Mr Rai further alleged that even if someone just speaks in the assembly then it is taken as undemocratic. He added that Sikkim needs change and people’s voice should not be sidelined, and in this regard, he contended that Mr Tamang’s suspension on the last day of the budget session was ‘unjust’.
The former MP questioned that instead of pointing out Mr Tamang’s absence from the assembly till now the party leader should have corresponded with the MLA to seek out reasons for his absence. If such correspondence had taken place, then it should be made public Mr Rai demanded. He also commented that the CM’s allegations on Mr Tamang ‘misleading the house’ is not of the former’s concern but is the lookout of the Speaker of the Assembly.
Mr Rai further suggested training for the legislative members on correct parliamentary proceedings.
 “I was expelled from the party for alleged anti-party activities but the party has not been able to clarify till date about what my anti-party activities were. Mr Tamang, however, is openly opposing the party then why hasn’t the party expelled him as yet,” the former MP questioned.

Speaker suspends Golay from final day of Budget Session

GANGTOK, 28 June: Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, KT Gyaltsen, today suspended Upper Burtuk MLA, PS Tamang, from the House for the day taking exception to statements issued by him to the media on the day’s proceedings after he left the Assembly session yesterday. Quoting Rule 317 of the General Rules of Procedure Notices, the Speaker informed Mr. Tamang that he was withdrawn from the House for the day and that his participation in the day’s proceedings were suspended.
When Mr. Tamang, instead of withdrawing from the House, stood up and started challenging the order, the Speaker called in the Marshals and directed them to escort Mr. Tamang, who had by then also pulled out a black scarf of protest, out of the House.
Taking up the ruling on the issue as the first order of legislative business, the Speaker pointed out that Mr. Tamang had been allotted time like other members on both the preceding days to address the house and of how against the allotted time of 15 minutes yesterday, he insisted on speaking for up to 22-25 minutes despite being told not to veer out of context and conclude his remarks. And yet, on leaving the House yesterday, he alleged [in media statements] that he had not been allowed to speak and instead of registering his protest in the House, proclaimed outside that he had walked out.
The Speaker also explained today that Mr. Tamang’s leaving midsession yesterday was not a walk-out, as reported in a section of the media [including NOW!], because he had not registered his protest in the floor of the House first.
The Speaker while expressing his unhappiness with yesterday’s proceedings involving Mr Tamang and the media reports urged that the role of the press and media was to deliver responsible, fair and constructive information and that action would be considered against media which had reported ‘unwisely’ even when he had given a ruling stressing on various aspects about the proceedings clearly.
“How do you expect to be a leader if you do not realize your responsibilities? You have come here these three days just to disturb the house,” he told the Upper Burtuk MLA even as he argued against the order.

The Speaker also announced that he will not allow the House or the Constitution of India to be disregarded or diminished and also warned other members against overstepping the boundaries of conduct set for the conduction of business in the House.
Later, outside the Assembly Secretariat complex, Mr. Tamang told reporters that the entire episode was a ‘conspiracy’ to suppress the voice of the people. He alleged that there was no democracy left in the State which had been proved with the way in which the Speaker had ousted him from the legislative assembly today.
“I have put on this black band in protest since I was not allowed to speak the truth. I was about to disclose many more discrepancies within the SDF party which is why I have been treated in this way. However, this is a victory for the people as the truth will now come out in the open. The time will come when truth shall prevail,” he said.

High Court suspends Registrar General for gross dereliction of duties in previous charge

FULL COURT SEES SERIOUS LAPSE IN INCUMBENT’S FAILURE TO DELIVER JUDGEMENT ON CONSUMER CASE LISTED FOR JUDGMENT IN NOV 2010
GANGTOK, 18 June: The Registrar General of the High Court of Sikkim has come under the High Court scanner after a full court of the High Court found ‘gross irregularities’ and ‘serious dereliction of duties’ during his tenure as President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, East. The Registrar General, SW Lepcha, has accordingly been placed under suspension with immediate effect pending disciplinary proceedings.
The High Court of Sikkim called a full court meeting [Chief Justice Permod Kohli and Justice Sonam P Wangdi] to consider the “lapse” and passed a full court resolution placing the Registrar General under suspension.
The full court, in its resolution adopted today, considered the Registrar General’s failure [during his term as President District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, East] in delivering a judgment in a Consumer Case dating back to the year 2008. The case in question is Consumer Case No.1 of 2008, Amit Kumar Agrawal versus the Branch Manager, ICICI Bank.
The final arguments for this case were heard on 30 October 2010 and the case posted for judgment on 27 November 2010. This judgment was never pronounced, and as per the minutes of the full court meeting of today, Mr. Lepcha also kept the concerned file with him for more than two years since “even when he was transferred from the post” on 15 December 2010 and placed as Registrar General, High Court of Sikkim.
The High Court, in its resolution, records, ‘…in view of seriousness of the lapses, it is resolved to place Mr. S W Lepcha, Registrar General, High Court of Sikkim, the then President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, East and North at Gangtok under suspension with immediate effect, pending disciplinary proceedings’.
During the period of suspension, Mr. Lepcha will report to the Registrar General In-charge of Sikkim High Court even as ‘the original records be sealed and kept in safe custody,’ the full court directed the Registry.
The full court has directed the registry of the High Court to forward the ‘Order of Suspension’ to the Governor in accordance with the Rules. In view of the suspension of the incumbent Registrar General, the Registrar of Sikkim High Court NG Sherpa has been directed to hold charge of office of the Registrar General till further orders.