Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has blamed the state government for Nagaland State Entrance Examination (NSEE) imbroglio involving one Md. Inzamul Hoque Talukdar who has filed a case against the state government and 44 students selected through the NSEE 2015.
In a press release, publicity cell, NTC expressed shock at the manner in which the state government has been “running the affairs” of the state “allowing discrepancies and gross violations” of the policy decisions and thoroughly compromising the interest of the indigenous Nagas by its callous attitude and careless handlings.
It questioned how the responsible government officials at different stages allowed a non-Naga indigenous to become eligible to compete with the rest of those who were legally entitled.
Referring to state cabinet memorandum No.CAB-1/95 dated Kohima, September 21, 1995, the NTC said the memo states that the MBBS seat will not be given to candidates of non-Naga father who are not a member of Scheduled Tribe. NTC said this cabinet memo superseded the common selection board guidelines prescribed during 1987-88.
It stated that just because of flouting the laid down rules, Md. Inzamul Hoque Talukdar had to be the point of debate at the very moment.
NTC maintained that when the person in question was a bona fide citizen of India, it was his fundamental right to seek for any opportunity of studies or employment anywhere in the country unless a state law debarred one from getting such a chance.
However, NTC said the responsible decision makers, having kept the framed policies in cold storage, have intentionally flouted the protective laws rampantly at will, which, it described was a serious matter of concern. Urging the state government to uphold its policy decision, NTC also demanded immediate action against the officials concern and take corrective measure to restore the rights of the deserving candidates.
Meanwhile, the NTC also expressed concerned over the issuing indigenous certificates by district administrations to non-Nagas as per notification No. AR-8/8/76 dated 28th of April, 1977 that has laid down criteria for candidates to apply for Indigenous Certificate for the purpose of employment under the state government as envisaged in the order No. APPT.18/06/1967 Dated 06/07/1973 where a person whose name or his/her parent name or legitimate guardian’s name has been entered in the electoral roll published in 05/12/1963 or the family of such person who has been paying house tax prior to 1.12.1963 or whose family acquired property and patta prior to 01.12.1963.
In the light of the above, the NTC urged the responsible deputy commissioner to thoroughly investigate the antecedent of Md. Inzamul Hoque Talukdar strictly based on the prescribed law.