Final results cannot be declared without Court’s approval
Morung Express News
Kohima | December 3
The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, on December 3, has permitted the State to continue with the recruitment process for Excise Constables, while directing that the final results cannot be declared without the Court’s approval, pending the hearing of an appeal.
The direction from the Division Bench was issued while hearing a writ appeal against the Single Judge verdict of October 16, which had quashed Corrigendum No.EX-1/ESTT/1/2022/642-43 dated June 4, 2025, and the subsequent physical test conducted under it.
The Single Judge had ruled that the corrigendum, which introduced a written test, violated the Nagaland Excise Service (Revised) Rules, 1999, and the government memorandum dated July 19, 2016, which prescribes medical and physical standards for recruitment. The Court had directed the State to conduct the recruitment strictly according to the original advertisement dated April 7, 2025, limiting assessments to physical tests and viva-voce.
The State of Nagaland and the Excise Department appealed against the judgment, arguing that the inclusion of the written test was necessary to ensure fairness and transparency in evaluating candidates. The appeal also stated that the corrigendum was issued before the commencement of assessments and that the candidates had been duly notified.
The High Court directed notices to be issued to all respondents, returnable on January 14, 2026, and allowed the State to continue with the recruitment in the interim. Upon submission that the written tests under the corrigendum had already been conducted, the Court emphasised that the results of candidates must not be declared without its leave.
