Site of medical college in Kohima. (Morung File Photo)
File within two weeks or CS, Principal Secretary H&FW ‘shall appear in person,’ says Court
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 12
The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court, on April 12, rapped the Nagaland Government, represented by Chief Secretary, for not filing an affidavit on the status of Kohima medical college as it directed on February 22.
A bench comprising of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Devashis Baruah on February 22 had directed the State’s Chief Secretary to file a comprehensive affidavit showing how the “medical college project would be completed within the shortest time and how the Government will ensure starting of the college this year.”
As per the Bench, the direction was passed after it was assured by the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department along with other officers on February 16, 2021 that the first batch of MBBS students “would be admitted from the session 2022-2023.”
Listing the matter again after three weeks, the Bench then asked the CS to file the affidavit ‘on or before the next date’ of hearing.
However, on the next date of hearing on March 23, the Additional Advocate General (AG) of Nagaland urged the Bench to grant two weeks to comply with the directions, which the latter agreed. listing the matter again on April 12.
Hearing the case on April 12, the Bench, however noted that the affidavit was yet to be filed as directed.
Instead, the Additional AG submitted that the matter was brought to the notice of the CS, a meeting chaired by the latter himself was held on April 5 on the subject matter and requested once again for granting some more time to file the affidavit as directed.
Accordingly, the Bench granted to two more weeks to file the affidavit but with a caveat.
Listing the matter again for April 27, the Bench stated that if the CS fails to file the affidavit as “required on or before the date given, he (CS) along with the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare shall appear in person.”
The Bench is currently hearing a batch of analogous Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on matters relating to quality health services as per the Indian Public Health Standard Guidelines in Nagaland.
