HC dismisses petition challenging Nagaland Govt appointments

Kohima (Nagaland), 4 Aug 2018

In a major setback to popular mass movement Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) in Nagaland, Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court on Friday dismissed its writ petition filed along with Nitoka V Swu seeking termination of 655 appointments in the State government and requisitioning 706 posts to Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC).

Justice Michael Zothankhuma asked the petitioners to show that they were aggrieved by the appointments and provide materials to challenge the appointments.

Observing that the petitioners were challenging the appointments made across 25 departments and seeking their termination, the judge said that it was very difficult to sift through the facts in the absence of complete material facts.

He advised the petitioners to file separate petitions instead, challenging the appointments by providing particulars.

The judge clarified that their petition had not been dismissed on merit, but only on the issue of its maintainability.

The case was keenly followed in Nagaland as there have always been allegations of large-scale corruption and nepotism in State government appointments.