Deputy Commissioner Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant IAS has issued the following directives for strict compliance by all concerned to combat the alleged illegal collection of money from the vehicles at check gates and other locations in the district, with immediate effect:
- All police check gates, except the existing interstate check gates, shall be closed henceforth
- The check gates set up by the other departments, including Tuensang Town Council, shall be immediately closed throughout the district, except the inter-state check gates, which may function up till 31st May 2022 and beyond that date shall function only after obtaining specific approval from Home Department.
- If anywhere in the district, a check gate by any organisation, group, or private individual has been set up or functioning, for whatsoever reasons, it shall also be removed/ closed henceforth.
- In the event of additional inter or intra district check gates required for an unavoidable reason by any department, including the police department, in any part of the district, the matter shall be referred through AHOD/HOD concerned with justifications to the Home Department for consideration, and only after getting prior approval of the government, the check gate will be set up by the Department concerned.
- Every department concerned after closing the check gate at any location in compliance with this order, shall dismantle and completely remove any temporary structure/building standing at the location and being used by it, to obviate the possibility of anyone else misusing the structure/space left behind for illegal collection purposes.
- An Inspection Team shall be constituted comprising of ADC (HQ), Addl. SP, District Transport Officer, and the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) shall be responsible for ensuring that there is no check gate functional on any road in the district in violation of this order. The Team will move with a section strength force to be provided by the Superintendent of Police, Tuensang, and regularly conduct surprise inspections to check if any unauthorized check gate is functional, and in the event of any such gate being found, including by private groups, individuals all the persons manning the gates shall be prosecuted under sections 188 and 384 IPC. Disciplinary proceedings shall also be initiated by the Department concerned against the government servants found involved, if any. Further, prompt steps shall be taken to dismantle and remove the unauthorized check gates put up by any department, local authority, or organization.
- 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 undersigned for onward submission to Home Department with views and comments. 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 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 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 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 contact number with whatsapp facility, email ID of the control room at DEF Tuensang shall be made available for any report/ information or complaints regarding illegal collection of money from the vehicles at the check gates or other locations in the state.
- 12.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 paid to the Government, or for any other sufficiently good reasons, the Department officials concerned may immediately contact the Inspection Team of the District and jointly carry out the necessary checks on the vehicle and take other action necessary.
- The PWD Department shall put up prominent signage 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 at DEF Tuensang shall be displayed prominently on the signage. The signage shall be erected and placed in such a way that they are prominently readable from a distance in day and night.
- The Inspection Team shall provide regular reports to the Deputy Commissioner for onward submission to Home Department on 1st and 15th of every month and shall certify the following:
- Regular inspections are being carried out by the Inspection Team throughout the District to ensure complete compliance to this order.
- That no unauthorized check gate is functional in any part of the district.
a. 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 check gates.
(DPRO Tuensang)