Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 3
Landing a first-hit for students’ organizations rattled by the recent Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) ‘nepotism’ debacle, the State Government has nullified the nominations of the two candidates who were allegedly referred for MBBS course study. One of the MMBS seats was alleged to have been allotted to one Sungtikumba L Imchen, son of Education Minister Imkong Imchen.
The nominations were declared to stay ineffective on August 1 a day after the Guwahati High Court, Kohima Bench issued an order directing the state government not to give effect to the nominations given to the aforementioned students as well as of one Akhovi Pase. Both Imchen and Pase failed to clear the JEE but according to aggrieved parties and students’ organization, Minister Imchen had personally requested a “family quota” seat for his son.
When contacted, Dr SC Deorani, Principal Secretary (ST, IT & TE) informed that the cancellation of the two students’ nomination was made on August 1 and that Minister Imkong Imchen has also been notified of the development. “The Court order was received on July 31 and the very next day we issued an order making ineffective the nominations of the two candidates. I contacted the Minister and OSD (JEE) and we issued directions that the nominations remains ineffective just like the Court ordered” the Principal Secretary said. Further, he said that the Chief Minister had called him and the matter was informed. “The Chief Minister wanted clarifications day before yesterday. CM called me and I apprised him” he said. To the query if Education Minister Imchen knows of the recent development, the Principal Secretary replied that the Minister has also been informed of the nullification order which was “approved on SMS”.
Also, replying to reports doing the rounds that he was actually the one who acted as lobbyist to the Ministry of Human Resource Development for the two MBBS seats, particularly for the Minister’s son, Dr Deorani out-rightly denied his involvement in the matter. “Absolutely not. I don’t have any contacts with the Ministry of Human Resource Development. I’m just doing my job in fair and just manner” Dr Deorani said adding that his track record be checked. He said that Chief Minister Rio had written to the MHRD around June for more seat allocation since outsiders don’t come to Nagaland to avail JEE seats and that there are thousands of students who desire to go for a medical career. It was for this reason, to give students greater chances at a medical career through JEE that the letter was written, Dr Deorani said. This way more seats for Naga students can be allotted, he added.
Meanwhile, highly-placed sources from the Department of Information Technology & Technical Education, on condition of anonymity, said that acting on a letter from the CM, Minister Imchen had approached the MHRD in Delhi. However, the sources opined that “it is a truth that at the same time, he has lobbied for a seat particularly for his son. All the sources although declining to be identified, agreed that “Everyone knows it and in fact the Minister himself has even admitted in the local papers”.
On the students’ side, the Ao Students Union Kohima (ASUK) expressing concern over the JEE selection issue and the related happenings in the state, has urged the Governor and the Chief Minister of Nagaland to intervene in the matter and deliver justice to the concern parties.
