A rally was held outside the Police Headquarters in Kohima on Friday, 28 February where aggrieved police personnel, whose appointments were recently quashed by the High Court, voiced their frustrations and demanded ‘justice.’
According to a report by East Mojo, the rally, organized by the affected personnel, was attended by 150 representatives from 40 different police units. They submitted a memorandum to Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma, urging the authorities to address their grievances.
The personnel, part of the 2018–2020 batch, have been directly impacted by the High Court’s order. According to Additional Superintendent of Police Soriso, a total of 1,138 police personnel from various units under the state’s Home Department were affected by the ruling. Holding placards with slogans like “We don’t want another faction,” “Why recruitment again?” and “We are Frontline COVID warriors,” the protesters made their concerns clear during the rally, which took place between 10 am and 11 am with prior approval from the district administration.
The High Court ruling, issued in response to a writ petition filed by unemployed youths, cited irregularities in the recruitment process, including claims of ‘backdoor appointments’ made without public advertisements. The petitioners, who challenged the process as arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, argued that these appointments bypassed necessary procedures and violated the principles of transparency and fairness in government hiring.
In upholding the petitioners’ claims, the court ordered the state government to conduct fresh recruitment, adhering strictly to eligibility criteria and physical examination standards. The court also instructed the state to advertise vacancies through local newspapers and ensure a transparent recruitment process. However, the ruling also granted a relaxation in the upper age limit for both the affected personnel and the petitioners.
While the court ruling allowed the affected personnel to continue serving for six months from the judgment date, or until fresh appointments were made, the personnel expressed uncertainty about their future. Many in the rally were visibly frustrated, questioning why they were being subjected to a new recruitment process despite their prior service, especially when some had contributed during critical times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January this year, the Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition that sought to challenge the High Court’s ruling.
(With inputs from East Mojo)