Nagaland University students outside at the District Court Complex, Zunheboto on September 22 during a hearing related to a former professor case. The Gauhati High Court’s Kohima Bench, in an interim order the same day, stayed the proceedings. (Morung File Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 8
The Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench (GHCKB) on October 8 reserved its judgment on a writ petition challenging the compulsory retirement of Nagaland University professor Sarat Chandra Yenisetti.
The Court, after hearing the counsel for the parties at length, concluded the hearing and reserved judgment. The parties have been given liberty to file their written submissions on October 9.
“Heard the learned Counsel for the Parties at length. Hearing concluded. Judgment reserved. However, the parties are at liberty to file their written submission on 09.10.2026,” stated the order issued by Justice N Unni Krishnan Nair on October 8.
Orally, the Judge indicated that the judgment is likely to be pronounced after the upcoming Puja holiday, with the GHCKB calendar listing the holiday from October 19 to 22.
In the writ petition filed in June this year, Yenisetti challenged NU’s Office Order dated June 2, 2025, by which he was compulsorily retired from service following a disciplinary enquiry, and questioned the legality of the process.
During the June 16 hearing, his counsel argued that the enquiry had been conducted under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, although the Rules had not been adopted by Nagaland University.
The petitioner contends that the enquiry was therefore void ab initio. He has also challenged the reliance on Statute 28(2) of Nagaland University for imposing compulsory retirement, arguing that compulsory retirement is not a penalty and that its imposition under the provision was illegal.
The disciplinary action followed an incident at the University’s Department of Zoology on November 25, 2024. According to the FIR lodged by the University Registrar, Yenisetti was alleged to have brandished a machete and verbally assaulted a student, besides physically assaulting and manhandling an Assistant Professor. The FIR also alleged repeated harassment and intimidation of research scholars and students.
Criminal petition status
A parallel criminal case related to the incident was listed on October 8, but was not taken up after Justice N Mozhui recused himself.
The criminal petition challenged the January 23, 2026 order of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Zunheboto, framing charges against the former professor in connection with the November 25, 2024 incident.
The petition seeks quashing of the charge-framing order and consequential proceedings, citing alleged irregularities in the procedure adopted by the investigating agency and the trial court.
During the last hearing on September 22, Justice Helen Dawngliani issued notice to the State and, in the interim, stayed the criminal trial proceedings pending before the JMFC, Zunheboto, arising from the Women Police Station case.
