Agartala, 9th September 2026 : Questions have been raised over the outsourcing of 20 personnel as Technical IT Experts in the Tripura Legislative Assembly after the completion of the NeVA (National eVidhan Application) project, which was launched to bring the Assembly under a completely paperless and digital system.
The Unemployed Engineering Association has raised questions regarding the necessity of the appointments, qualification criteria, roster, financial burden and security of sensitive information in an important constitutional institution such as the Legislative Assembly.
According to a complaint submitted by association member Biprajit Saha and documents cited in connection with the complaint, questions have been raised over the necessity of engaging 20 technical personnel through outsourcing after the three-year NeVA project came to an end.
The association claims that guidelines issued by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) did not make such large-scale outsourcing mandatory after completion of the project. Instead, it argues that the post-project structure envisaged retaining a limited number of technical personnel according to requirements.
According to the documents, the formal process for implementing NeVA in Tripura began in 2022 under an agreement involving the Tripura Legislative Assembly, SBL Pvt. Ltd. and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India.
The agreement was signed on July 27, 2022, following which questions, bills, notices, committee-related work and other legislative activities began to be moved to the digital platform.
Training for the NeVA application formally commenced on June 11, 2023. Assembly employees, personnel from various government departments and elected representatives were trained under the project.
The project completed its stipulated three-year period, with its scheduled term ending on October 13, 2025. According to the documents, the process of transferring project-related assets and responsibilities to the Assembly Secretariat was subsequently completed.
This meant that the Assembly Secretariat became responsible for operating and maintaining the State-side NeVA infrastructure after implementation of the project.
The question being raised now is: If the project had ended, why were 20 new personnel required?
According to the allegations, 20 individuals were engaged through Raminfo Ltd. on an outsourcing basis for 11 months—initially in January 2026 and subsequently in March 2026.
They were reportedly designated as Technical IT Experts, with each receiving approximately Rs 30,000 per month. The appointments have therefore created an additional recurring financial liability for the Assembly.
The complainant organisation has compared this arrangement with the post-project structure referred to in MoPA documents.
According to the cited documents, after completion of the project, trained permanent Secretariat employees under a Permanent NeVA Nodal Officer/NeVA Cell could handle the system, while technical assistance, if required, could be provided by one Senior Technical Support Professional and two to three Technical Support Staff. Central technical support from NIC/CPMU/NeVA could also be utilised.
Thus, according to the association, the proposed model contemplated a limited number of skilled technical personnel rather than 20 outsourced employees.
Questions have also been raised over the educational qualifications of those appointed as Technical IT Experts.
Annexure-A of the MoPA’s NeVA project documentation reportedly prescribed qualifications and experience benchmarks for various technical manpower positions, including B.Tech./MCA qualifications for positions such as Web Administrator, Database Administrator, Senior Technical Support Professional, Network Operation Professional, Technical Trainer and Technical Support Professional.
However, the documents reportedly clarify that these qualifications were benchmarks for manpower hired during the project period and do not automatically constitute statutory qualifications for every outsourced position after completion of the project.
At the same time, the post-project technical support framework reportedly gives preference to candidates holding B.Tech./B.E. in Computer Science or Information Technology, or MCA, from recognised universities.
The association alleges that several of the 20 personnel currently engaged do not possess relevant technical qualifications in Computer Science, Information Technology or MCA. It has been alleged that some hold degrees in Mechanical, Electrical or Civil Engineering, while others reportedly possess BA, B.Com, BBA, Higher Secondary or other non-technical qualifications.
These allegations, however, need to be verified against the official recruitment documents and terms of engagement. The MoPA documents themselves reportedly indicate that the Assembly may determine qualification and engagement terms for post-project appointments according to its requirements, subject to applicable Tripura rules.
During a recent discussion in the Assembly, MLA Ranjit Debbarma’s remarks were also cited by the organisation in connection with allegations that the roster was not followed in outsourced recruitment.
This has raised further questions: If the appointments were made through an outsourcing agency rather than through regular government recruitment, what recruitment procedure, qualification criteria and roster policy were followed?
In view of allegations suggesting political influence, recommendations and financial transactions, the demand for a transparent investigation has become stronger. However, determining the truth of such allegations requires disclosure and examination of the relevant recruitment documents, tender or engagement process and government approvals.
NeVA is not merely an ordinary office application. According to the relevant documentation, the system may contain questions, bills, notices, committee documents, information relating to members, House Papers, administrative records, user credentials, internal communications and confidential information pending approval.
Therefore, unrestricted access to the entire NeVA system or confidential legislative information should not be given to outsourced technical personnel.
The MoPA-based recommendations reportedly emphasise that administrative control, user creation and deactivation, role and privilege approvals, sensitive House and Committee modules, password governance, data-access authorisation, monitoring and supervision of outsourced technical personnel should remain under the control of permanent Secretariat employees.
The central issue, therefore, is the separation between technical assistance and the core administrative and legislative control of the Assembly.
The Unemployed Engineering Association has questioned the need for 20 outsourced Technical IT Experts after the successful completion and handover of the NeVA project.
It has sought answers on their qualifications, the tender or selection criteria followed, compliance with roster requirements and the manner in which access to confidential Assembly information is being controlled.
The association has demanded that, if technical personnel are genuinely required, a limited number of professionals with relevant qualifications such as B.Tech./B.E. in CSE/IT or MCA should be engaged. It has also called for trained permanent Secretariat employees to retain primary control over the system.
The biggest question remains: If responsibility for maintaining the technology infrastructure lies with the Assembly Secretariat after completion of the project, what is the administrative and technical justification for outsourcing 20 personnel?
If such manpower is genuinely necessary, the written administrative and technical justification, recruitment process and qualification criteria should be made public.
As the Legislative Assembly is one of the principal institutions of law-making and democratic accountability, questions surrounding recruitment and administrative transparency within the institution are undoubtedly significant.
Verification of the allegations through a transparent investigation and publication of relevant government records would be necessary to provide definitive answers.
