Based on the COMPLIANCE AFFIDAVIT filed by the government of Nagaland, the Guwahati High Court Kohima Bench on 9th May, 2022, finally disposed off the PIL on (setting up of) NSSB.
Justice S. Serto and Justice Nelson Sailo were satisfied with the government undertaking and ruled that “Since everything is in place the Board shall start functioning and conduct exams at the earliest as people of the state have been eagerly waiting for so long.”
As per the affidavit, the Chairman of the NSSB took charge of the Board on 16th February 2022 and the NSSB office in the New Directorate Building of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services is up and running since 20th April 2022.
It may be mentioned that in July 2020 the Rio government issued a notification constituting the NSSBbut even after a lapse of more than 1 year the NSSB remained only in paper. Instead, the state government on 16th July 2021 opted for backdoor appointment of more than 1400 posts which needless to say horrified every right thinking citizens.
In order to salvage the future of the student community, a PIL was filed on the 31st August 2021 by the Rising People’s Party through Neiteo Koza, Advocate and Counsellor for the petitioners.
After numerous hearings and delay tactics of the state government, the Hon’ble Judges finally saved the day for the student community. This victory is a victory for the student community and credit for it goes to the NSF, PSAN, ENSF and others such as ACAUT in the initial years.
The RPP requests the NSSB to start the recruitment process at the earliest. Though the case could have been disposed off as early as November 2021, the delay tactics of the government advocates ensured otherwise, and many students crossed the age limit, unfortunately. Age relaxation should be considered since it was the UDA coalition which created the problem in the first place, including creating delay tactics during the hearing period.
If the RPP comes to power it will ensure that interview in NSSB exams is done away with in order to curb nepotism and favouritism. Only the written marks will be considered for the final merit list.
The flip-flop of the Rio government against the student community should not be forgotten either.
Rising People’s Party
May 10, 2022