High Court constitutes panel to verify status report of medical college in Kohima

The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench on Wednesday constituted a six-member ‘independent committee’ to verify the status report of the medical college building and to inspect the Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research (NIMSR) at Phriebagie, Kohima, on March 22.

The committee comprising registrar and joint registrar (judicial), Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, advocates TB Jamir, Tongpok Pongener, Joshua Sheqi, and Apila Sangtam will inspect the NIMSR in the presence of the advocate for petitioner, Neiteo Koza; CGC ZN Ngullie; advocate for Health and Family Welfare, N Mozhui; and principal director of Health and Family Welfare.

Read: Naga Hospital to be used as medical college till NIMSR is operational

A bench of justices LS Jamir and Kakheto Sema issues the order during the hearing of public interest litigation on the matter on Wednesday.

The committee has been further directed to file a report on the inspection.

The team is to “verify the veracity” of the affidavit regard to the status report of the medical college building in particular as well as to inspect the medical college, it informed.

Meanwhile, Health and Family Welfare department, in a report submitted before the court, claimed that 80% (overall) work had been completed for medical college building as on March 10.

It also informed that the first academic session is expected to start from May-June 2023. However, the letter of permission (LOP) from the National Medical Commission, which is required to start the college, is yet to be received.

The department is said to have written to the state government on March 3 for creation of 342 posts for teaching and non-technical staff.  On this, the court asked Additional AG Imti Imsong to take instructions on steps taken by the government.

Out of the 342 posts, 285 are said to be for the first year and 57 for the second year. The department also informed that the first phase of interview has been completed while the second phase for teaching faculty is expected to be completed by March end.

Proposal for creation of administrative staff is awaiting cabinet’s approval, it was informed.

The matter has been listed for next hearing on March 29. Kohima, March 15 (EMN)