Nagaland Medical College: Contractor assures HC appointed Committee to complete work by May 

A bird's eye view of the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR) in Phriebagie, Kohima. As per the State’s health department, the first academic session of the institute will start from 2023-24 once Letter of Permission is granted by the National Medical Council. (Image Courtesy: AAR 2022-23, DoHFW Nagaland)

A bird's eye view of the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR) in Phriebagie, Kohima. As per the State’s health department, the first academic session of the institute will start from 2023-24 once Letter of Permission is granted by the National Medical Council. (Image Courtesy: AAR 2022-23, DoHFW Nagaland)

Morung Express News 
Kohima | April 12

The Contractor of the ongoing construction of the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Society (NIMSR) building in Phriebagie, Kohima has reportedly given assurance that entire work would be completed and handed over by May 2023.

The assurance was given to the Independent Committee constituted by the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench by an order on March 15 to carry out physical inspection of the progress of the Medical College and “verify the authenticity” of the status report of the Medical College building submitted by the State respondents.

As per an order issued by the HC Kohima Bench on April 12, the Committee visited the site for the physical inspection on March 22 and has filed the affidavit showing the progress and the status of the work. 

The order from the  Division Bench of Justice Kakheto Sema and Justice Kardak Ete informed  that they have perused the affidavit and have also enquired from the counsel for the petitioner as to whether the progress/status of the work reflected in the affidavit is correct, to which the latter concurred.

As per the affidavit, the progresses of the work are shown as 80% and 70% completion. 

The assurance of the contractor was given in the ‘Remark’ column of the affidavit filed by the Committee.

Accordingly, to satisfy on the progress of the work, the Bench directed the Principal Director Directorate of Health and Family Welfare to file affidavit showing progress of the work with regard to certain sections contained in the affidavit filed by the Committee.

Meanwhile, regarding its earlier order on March 15 in which the Bench directed the learned Additional Advocate General (AAG) to take instructions regarding the creation of 342 posts, the latter place a letter dated 28.03.2023 written to him by the Joint Secretary to the Government of Nagaland (Health & Family Welfare Department).

Accordingly, it asked the AAG to file proper affidavit on the compliance of the March 15 with regard to the creation of 342 posts of Teaching and Non-technical staff, and also on the letter dated 28.03.2023. 

The affidavit shall be filed before the next date fixed, the Bench stated, listing the next hearing of the batch of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pertaining to the Medical College project as well as infrastructures, workforce and other amenities in the district hospitals, health centres and other health related issues,  on May 10.

It may be noted here that Annual Administrative Report 2022-23 of the DoHFW stated that the first academic session of the college will start by 2023-24 once the Letter of Permission (LoP) is granted by the National Medical Council (NMC).

During the hearing on Wednesday, the counsel for the medical department submitted orally that the LOP is expected to be granted soon given the satisfactory progress of pending works and other related activities.