Dimapur, July 9 (MExN): The Supreme Court has ordered that status quo be maintained in the recruitment process for 46 Excise Constable posts in Nagaland, staying further developments following the Gauhati High Court's decision restoring the recruitment process.
The interim order was passed on July 7 by a Bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Sheel Nagu while hearing a Special Leave Petition challenging the Gauhati High Court's June 23 judgment, which had allowed the State Government's appeal and directed the authorities to complete the recruitment process.
Issuing notice in the matter, the Supreme Court directed: "In the meantime, status quo, existing as of today, in all respects, shall be maintained by the parties, till the next date of listing."
The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 31, 2026.
The Gauhati High Court's Division Bench had earlier set aside the judgment of a Single Judge, which had quashed the Excise Department's decision to introduce a written examination after the recruitment process had commenced.
Holding that the Departmental Recruitment Board was empowered to devise an appropriate selection procedure in the absence of specific rules, the Division Bench restored the recruitment process and directed the State authorities to bring it to its logical conclusion.
With the Supreme Court's interim order directing maintenance of status quo, the recruitment process will remain subject to the outcome of the pending proceedings before the apex court.
