Family Welfare Department clarifies; Government notifies on ongoing agitation
The H&FW department has clarified that it had recruited the nurses with clear direction that these appointments will be temporary and regular recruitment shall be conducted through a special NPSC recruitment drive.
It stated that an advertisement was issued on July 16, 2020 for recruitment of 110 posts of Staff Nurse on a regular basis. It further clarified that ‘regular basis’ was mentioned erroneously and was corrected through a corrigendum issued on the next day, wherein the advertisement was rectified and regular appointment was corrected as temporary appointment.
Government notifies on ongoing agitation
The government has notified that Rule 25 of the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968 prohibits Government Servants from participating in any form of strike or in any way abet any form of strike. The government has also notified that there is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The government observed that the proposed stir in any form is likely to cause severe disruption in medical care/public health services and is therefore liable to endanger the life, health and security of the people of the State. This will tantamount to violating the provisions of the Nagaland Essential Service (Maintenance) Act, 1978 and invite penal action, the state government cautioned.
The State Government has stated that the call given by the Aggrieved Nurses for ceasing of work by the Nurses employed/deployed in Government Health Unit/facilities will seriously impact the delivery of essential services, thereby putting in grave jeopardy the lives and well-being of the people of the state. Inferring Section 3 (1) of the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance Act) 1978 the governor of Nagaland has prohibited the call for cease of work by the Aggrieved Nurses.
“Any police officer may arrest without warrant any nurses employed/deployed/engaged in any Government Health Unit/facility, who is reasonably suspected of having committed the illegal Act of ceasing work/going on strike under Section 8 of the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance Act) 1978,” the government cautioned in a notification through DIPR.