Lakhipur Co-District Under Scanner: RTI Activist Alleges Officer Absence, Public Harassment

An RTI activist and social worker from Pailapul, Rakesh Singh, has submitted a complaint to the Assam Government’s Personnel Department alleging administrative lapses, the absence of officers during working hours and difficulties faced by members of the public at the Lakhipur Co-District office in Cachar.

In his representation dated September 28, 2026, Singh sought an independent and impartial inquiry into the functioning of the Co-District administration, particularly the availability of Co-District Commissioner Dhrubajyoti Pathak, ACS, and other officials at their designated headquarters.

The complaint refers to an executive order issued by the Personnel Department on September 3, 2026, titled “Ensuring full-fledged and effective functioning of Co-Districts”.

The order states that Co-District Commissioners must devote their full official time and attention to the administration and development of their respective Co-Districts. It also directs District Commissioners not to assign them duties outside their jurisdiction unless the state government specifically authorises an exception in exceptional circumstances.

Singh has alleged that Pathak frequently remains in Silchar and attends to responsibilities outside Lakhipur instead of maintaining a continuous administrative presence at the Co-District headquarters. He has urged the authorities to verify the allegations through official attendance records, movement registers, tour diaries, vehicle logbooks and other administrative records.

The representation also raises concerns over the alleged unavailability of other officers and staff, including magistracy officers, branch officers, senior assistants and junior assistants, during normal working hours.

According to the complaint, members of the public visiting the office for routine administrative services and grievance redressal are sometimes made to wait unnecessarily, are unable to meet the concerned officers or have to make repeated visits without receiving satisfactory responses.

Singh has further alleged that certain officers and branches formally associated with Lakhipur Co-District perform substantial parts of their duties from Silchar or elsewhere in Cachar. The complaint mentions Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Excise and other administrative establishments in this regard.

Seeking corrective measures, Singh has requested the government to examine the relevant official records, review existing work allocations and ensure that officers and staff remain available at their designated headquarters during prescribed working hours, except when engaged in authorised tours, field duties, leave or other sanctioned assignments.

He has also requested that an officer independent of the existing Lakhipur administrative arrangement be entrusted with the fact-finding exercise, if considered appropriate.