Dimapur, September 15 (MExN): In a surprising twist to the ongoing court case between Nagaland’s senior government employees versus the Nagaland retirement from Public Service (Second Amendment) Bill 2009, a judge in the bench hearing the case has reportedly opted out. The Guahati High Court held its first hearing on the 2009 retirement bill case, today.
Following this ‘technical difficulty’ the case has been deferred to Thursday the 17th of September, highly-placed sources informed this paper. The unidentified Guahati High Court judge who is lauded for being ‘honest’ in his stance, is said to have been an advocate for a similar case in 1991. He is said to have represented ‘the government.’ It was learned that the judge, by his consent expressed his inability to hear the case.
According to reliable sources, the Guahati High Court judge by his own admission declared before the court in today’s hearing not to participate in the case as he was also an advocate in a similar case against a similar bill in 1991. It could not be confirmed which case in 1991 the judge was referring to, as having been an advocate ‘for the government.’
Some sources said the case in question is the one the Confederation of All Nagaland State Service Employees’ Association’s (CANSSEA) petitioned in 1993 against the Nagaland government’s move to reset the retirement and service age. In that case, the high court had decided in favor of the petitioners.
Independent confirmation on this particular matter could not be made from the sources. Nonetheless, the Guahati High Court has deferred the current case to September 17 the hearing on the petition filed against the Nagaland government’s Nagaland retirement from Public Service (Second Amendment) Bill 2009. The petition has been filed by the Nagaland Senior Government Employees’ Welfare Association. The deferment was scheduled in today’s hearing due to some “technical difficulties,” sources said.
According to sources, the association is expecting a new judge in the hearing bench for the case for the September 17 hearing. It was learned that the current case is being heard by a bench of four judges and a replacement.
Earlier this month, the Nagaland Senior Government Employees’ Welfare Association had challenged the Nagaland government’s bill in the court. Guahati High Court had admitted the petition and directed the state government to respond by September 7. Also Naga Students’ Federation’s officials were in Guwahati for the case but only as “an observer.” It was informed that the NSGEWA was represented by three lawyers. The government side, it is learned, is represented by the advocate general and other lawyers.
