Imphal: The People’s Progressive Alliance Manipur (PPAM) wants a time-bound vigilance probe and criminal charges against former Law Commissioner Nungshitombi Athokpam. The group hit the Governor of Manipur with a formal memorandum, alleging Athokpam acted as Joint Secretary of the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) without ever holding a lawful appointment. The stakes are high.
Athokpam served as Commissioner (Law) from 2010 to 2018. During that stretch, she also worked as the Drawing and Disbursing Officer from March 7, 2010, until December 20, 2018. The MHRC lacked a chairperson at the time. On February 1, 2018, she signed an order hiring six staff members, including a stenographer, an LDC, a driver, two peons, and a chowkidar-cum-sweeper.
PPAM points to an RTI reply from the Manipur Secretariat dated July 7, which confirms no department records exist for her appointment as Joint Secretary of the MHRC. The organization argues this breach violates service rules and administrative norms. "Criminal liability would arise if the allegations were established," the memorandum noted, citing the Indian Penal Code and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Beyond the job appointments, the group highlighted a separate March 2025 complaint from former Additional Superintendent of Police Th. Brinda. That filing accuses Athokpam of misusing Rs 55.41 lakh between 2010 and 2017. PPAM is now pushing the Governor to force an FIR, investigate the financial irregularities, and kill off the disputed appointments made under her tenure.
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