Aizawl: Members of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) on Monday, May 25, 2026, staged a gherao outside the Tourism Department office in Aizawl to protest the re‑employment of the department’s director after her April retirement, preventing the director and staff from entering the premises; police said the demonstration remained peaceful and protesters dispersed later in the afternoon as no officials reported to work.
The dispute concerns R. Lalrodingi, who retired on April 30, 2026, from her posts as Additional Director in the Commerce and Industries Department and the Geology and Mining Department. Ahead of her retirement, the government issued an order on April 24, 2026, re‑engaging her from May 1, 2026, with dual responsibilities as Tourism Director and as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Lalduhoma.
After objections from the MZP during a May 13, 2026 meeting with the chief minister, the government revoked her appointment as Tourism Director on May 15, 2026, allowing her to remain only as OSD. The decision was reversed again on May 22, 2026, when the administration directed Lalrodingi to assume additional charge as Tourism Director with immediate effect.
MZP president C. Lalremruata said the organisation accepted her role as OSD, which it viewed as a political posting, but strongly opposed her continuation as Tourism Director. He accused Chief Minister Lalduhoma of going back on a written assurance to review the re‑employment and reiterated the MZP’s long‑standing stance that the re‑appointment of retired officials blocks promotion opportunities for serving employees and limits job prospects for educated youth.
Health Minister Lalrinpuii defended the reappointment, saying Lalrodingi’s expertise was urgently needed and noting her prior work with the North Eastern Council on tourism and her brief handling of the director’s duties before retirement. The minister said Lalrodingi had helped secure central funds and advance several tourism initiatives, and that no eligible department official was immediately available to take over. She added the arrangement was intended to be temporary, with Lalrodingi retained on a monthly salary of ₹35,000, and appealed to the MZP to understand the practical considerations behind the decision.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/mizoram-mzp-protests-reappointment-of-retired-official-as-tourism-director.html
Category: Mizoram,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-05-26 07:10:00
