The Same Man Holding Key Posts in Both State and Central Institutions for Years —Is Tripura Witnessing the Rise of a ‘Retired Officers’ Syndicate’?”
Duranta TV Web | Agartala | Tripura
“Is Tripura Heading Towards the Guinness Book?
84-Year-Old Hemanta Pratihari Still Serving as Director 26 Years After Retirement!”
Is Tripura witnessing an unprecedented chapter in its administrative history?
Or is an “immortal employment empire” being built by bypassing the law?
The State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) of Tripura is currently at the center of a major controversy. At the heart of the debate is one name — Hemanta Kumar Pratihari.
Allegations claim that even nearly 26 years after retirement, he continues to hold the post of In-Charge Director of the State Forensic Science Laboratory. Not only that, he is also reportedly serving as Director of the Tripura campus of the centrally-run National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU).
Questions are now being raised —
In a country of 1.5 billion people, is there really only one qualified person?
Does Tripura not have any other forensic expert?
Or has this post now become personal property?
According to sources, after retiring from another state government service, Hemanta Kumar Pratihari joined the FSL in 2001. He served there from 2001 to 2009. Later, he was reportedly relieved from the post and a new Director was appointed through the Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC). However, in 2011, Pratihari allegedly returned to the FSL and has continued there ever since, effectively functioning as a “permanent Director.”
Then, in 2021, he was also given the additional charge of Director of the NFSU Tripura campus.
That means the same individual is simultaneously heading two crucial institutions under both the State Government and the Central Government.
Now the biggest questions are —
Under which rule?
With what approval?
Under which extension order?
Because a section of the administrative circle claims that his last extension order expired years ago. If so, how is he still continuing in office?
Even more explosive are the allegations regarding his actual age.
To some, he reportedly says he is 82; to others 84; and elsewhere even 86.
Sources claim that his age has not been clearly reflected in official records, though according to Aadhaar-related information, he is currently around 84 years old.
And the controversy does not end there.
Allegations have also surfaced that he introduces himself as a “Professor,” despite there being no publicly available record of any official academic or university appointment in that capacity.
This has led academic circles to raise serious questions —
Where is the transparency regarding qualifications?
Where is the dignity of the government recruitment process?
Sources further allege that several Scientific Officers from the Forensic Laboratory were regularly deputed to NFSU for teaching assignments.
In other words, officers whose primary responsibility should have been criminal investigation, scientific analysis, and forensic examination were allegedly diverted into academic activities.
According to the allegations, those officers were receiving full salaries from the State Government while simultaneously earning additional honorariums ranging from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 from NFSU.
This raises further questions —
Can a government employee legally receive financial benefits from two institutions at the same time?
Does this not violate service rules and financial norms?
Naturally, another question follows —
Who is protecting this entire system from behind the scenes?
Strong discussions are reportedly taking place within administrative circles that an “invisible protection network” inside the Secretariat continues to shield him.
In particular, questions are now being raised regarding Assistant Secretary Akinchan Sarkar.
Sources claim that the Chief Minister had allegedly directed, nearly a year ago, that Hemanta Kumar Pratihari be removed and replaced with a new appointee.
However, that order was allegedly never implemented.
Instead, allegations suggest that the file was “buried under the table.”
If it is true that even the Chief Minister’s directive has not been executed, then a serious question inevitably arises —
Is Tripura being run by the elected government, or by an invisible network of retired bureaucrats?
The most worrying aspect is that this culture of repeated reappointment is blocking the future of young, qualified, and deserving officers in the state.
Posts that should ideally be occupied by a new generation of scientists, forensic experts, and academicians are reportedly being held by the same faces year after year, preventing modernization within the administration.
The “extension culture” in government departments has now reached such a level that retirement no longer appears to mean retirement — but rather the beginning of another career.
In several cases across the country, the Supreme Court of India has repeatedly observed that continuous reappointment of retired officials damages the normal administrative structure and blocks promotion opportunities for younger generations. The Court has repeatedly stated that extensions may be exceptional, but they cannot become the norm.
Then why, in Tripura, does the exception appear to have become the permanent rule?
An even bigger question remains —
In major forensic laboratories across India, such as those in Delhi, Hyderabad, Gujarat, or Maharashtra, is there any example of an 84-year-old continuing as Director?
Is there any precedent anywhere in the country of someone continuing in service 26 years after retirement?
Critics are now asking:
“Indira Gandhi passed away, yet the country continued.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee handed over power, yet the nation continued.
Dr. Manmohan Singh stepped down, yet India moved forward.
So if Hemanta Pratihari is removed, will Tripura’s forensic system collapse?”
With age, natural changes occur in decision-making ability, technological adaptability, field response capability, and administrative efficiency.
In a rapidly evolving and technology-driven field like forensic science, modern, professionally trained, and active leadership is essential.
Now the people of Tripura are asking one simple question —
Is the law equal for everyone?
Or are some individuals truly above the law?
There must be a transparent investigation.
All extension orders should be made public.
The government must clarify under which rule an 84-year-old individual continues to head two major institutions simultaneously.
84 years old, 26 years of extensions —
Is Tripura now heading toward the record books for an administrative scandal?
Is the forensic laboratory becoming a private empire?
How can the same individual continue occupying key positions under both the State and Central Governments for years?
Because the longer the silence continues, the deeper the controversy will grow.