Dimapur, February 2 (MExN): In a major relief for the student community, the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court directed the Nagaland government to allow online admission of unvaccinated students in Class 9 and above.
In an order, Justice S Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema also asked the State Government and the Principal Director of School Education Shanavas C to allow the unvaccinated students to attend classes “provided they come tested with RT PCR.”
The court order comes after the Rising People’s Party through its advocate Neiteo Koza, challenged an order issued by the state government on January 7, 2022 and a subsequent order from the Principal Director of School Education on January 11, 2022 through a PIL (public Interest litigation).
The order stated that the clause “Any student of class IX and above and who has completed 15 years of age shall be allowed to take admission or attend regular/offline classes only if he/she has taken at least one dose of vaccine against COVID-19” should be re-examined by the state government “keeping in view the situation in the state and its implications.”
This order covers all the schools and colleges in the state, it said.
Meanwhile, the RPP has appealed to the school and college authorities to strictly adhere to the court’s order.
“People who care for civil liberties should be grateful that we have judges who’re willing to uphold the rights of the citizens at a time when the state is exercising draconian power to curtail our freedom,” it added.
