Amid the ongoing wave of ethnic conflicts in Manipur, a seasoned bureaucrat has faced suspension due to his refusal in taking up the role of Deputy Commissioner for the Jiribam district. Ng. Roben Singh, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), was promptly suspended under the provisions of Rule 3 of the All India Service (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969, by Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi.
This action comes in response to the officer’s non-compliance with a transfer order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms on August 2. The directive appointed Singh to the position of Deputy Commissioner in the Jiribam district of Manipur.
The suspension has been prompted by the officer’s failure to adhere to the aforementioned transfer order. Singh’s response included a representation dated August 12, in which he raised concerns pertaining to the volatile communal tensions existing between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Singh articulated his reservations about assuming his duties in regions primarily inhabited by the Kuki community, citing apprehensions for the safety of Meitei Civil Officers, a category to which he belongs. Moreover, he highlighted his history of frequent transfers and expressed his willingness to serve as the Deputy Commissioner in districts that have been most severely affected by the ongoing communal strife in the valley.
