Disposes off PIL for creche in Kohima, Dimapur
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 21
The Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court directed the Nagaland Government and four other respondents to verify the actual existence of Creche Centres at Kigwema, Jakhama and Chedema villages in Kohima district and at some places in Dimapur, and establish them if not in existence.
If the Creche Centres are “found not in existence, establish such Centres within a period of three months from today,” stated the order issued by the Bench comprising of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema, disposing off a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on October 19.
According to the order, the petitioner, through its counsel Neiteo Koza, prayed for issuance of appropriate writ or order or direction, directing the respondents to establish Creche Centres where they were “supposed to have been in place i.e. at Kigwema village, Jakhama village and Chedema village in the district of Kohima and also at some places in the district of Dimapur.”
The respondents of the PIL were the State of Nagaland, represented by the Chief Secretary; Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Nagaland; Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Nagaland and the Union of India, represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
In the PIL, the petitioner informed the court that when a fact finding team went to the above stated villages and places in the district of Dimapur to enquire as to the actual existence of such Centres, it was found that such Centres were not in existence.
Accordingly, a representation dated 10/11/2019 was submitted to the concerned authorities for establishment of such Centres in those places. But since the request was not considered, the petitioners moved the court for “issuance of appropriate writ or order or direction, directing the respondents to establish Creche Centres in the places specified in the representation.”
Incidentally, as per the order, the respondents were given time to file their affidavit ever since the PIL was moved on 16/01/2020, but it went unheeded.
“Quite some time has passed by since then but no affidavit has been filed till today. Therefore, after hearing the learned counsels for the parties, we have decided to dispose the PIL,” it added.
Consequently, the High Court directed the respondents to verify from the places mentioned above as to the actual existence of Creche Centres as per their records and if they are found not in existence, establish such Centres as per the scheme as mentioned in the 2019 representation.
“The respondents shall do the same within a period of three months from today. With the above direction, PIL is disposed of,” it added.
