Dimapur, July 29 (MExN): In latest development, the Guwahati High Court, Kohima Bench has passed an order directing the State Government not to give effect to the nominations given to Sungtikumba I Imchen and Akhovi Pase for MBBS Course studies. The order, dated July 28, Kohima observed that the state government authorities in nominating the two aforementioned JEE candidates for MBBS course from the state quota is “arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional”.
“Accordingly, it is ordered that action of the State Government authorities in nominating respondents 3 and 4 on or about 25.07.06 shall not be given effect to till the returnable date. Since the matter relates to admission to the medical colleges and time may be running out for admission, pendency of the matter shall not be a bar for the authorities to consider the case of the petitioner” stated a copy of the court order received here.
The High Court took cognizance of what was stated as illegal action of the state government in selecting less-deserving candidates for the seats merited by Niuto S Chishi and subsequently depriving the latter of his merit-earned MBBS seat in the recently declared Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE). The court directed the matter be listed after two weeks.
Meanwhile, the family members of Niuto S Chishi have rejected the contentions of Education Minister Imkong Imchen on giving his son an MBBS berth while discounting Chishi of his merit-earned seat. The family expressed disgust that seats should be made on “special family quotas” and said that just practices should have been employed. “We are not interested in the additional seats or claiming the seats of other candidates. We are only claiming Niuto’s merit-earned seat” a family member said reminding that Chishi earned that slot, ranked 27th, purely out of merit as pointed out in the JEE merit-list results. The members also cited the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare letter No.U14014/3/2006-ME IV, New Delhi Dated July 19 wherein it was stated that “the selection of the candidates for the seats may kindly be made in accordance with the objective considerations of merit only”.
Chishi’s family also pointed out to the Minister that the Central pool Quota to the State of Nagaland for the academic session 2006-07 is 22 seats plus 11 seats from RIIMS, Imphal. “Therefore the total seats allocated to the state are 33 and not 31 as clarified by Imchen, School Education Minister” a member said adding that Chishi deserved the MBBS seat since he was placed in the merit-list anyway.
It may be mentioned here that Minister Imchen had “clarified” in Nagaland Post that he had sought a personal request specifically for a seat for his son who could not clear JEE selection in the merit list although he had passed “Cl-XII with good result”. The Minister also had clarified that his son, Sungtikumba L Imchen and another, Akhovi Pase who ranked 464th and 627th respectively were selected through additional seats this year “purely on personal request”. It was stated that the minister explained why he as Minister and chairman of selection board conducted the JEE Examinations but could not select his own son who failed to make the merit-list. So Minister Imchen pleaded to the Union Minister to allot seat to his son as a “token of affection and concern.” To quote his justification in the stated daily: “I, as a minister am responsible for the welfare and betterment of the state at the same time I as a father is also responsible for the welfare and betterment of my children I Thought I have done justice to all”.
Meanwhile in a press release, the Kohima Sumi Students Union, reacting to Minister Imchen’s clarification on the JEE fiasco, has expressed ‘pride’ that a minister should proudly fight for “family quotas” for a son rather than look after the welfare of the state. The KSSU through its president Joshua Sheqi Naga, President while denouncing the JEE nepotistic malpractices as well as the “family politics” in academic selections, called for keeping “dirty family politics out of state politics”.
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