Court directs Nagaland government not to charge employees for Covid test or stop salary

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 29 (EMN): The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench has issued an order directing the government of Nagaland not to charge the government employees for Covid test or stop payment of salaries over not taking vaccine till the next returnable date.

The order was in regard to a PIL filed by Dr. Aniruddha Babar challenging Nagaland Chief Secretary’s order in connection with attendance in office and requirement for vaccination for employees and staff in Nagaland Civil Secretariat and Directorates.

“We have gone through the order issued by the Chief Secretary which is under challenge. We are of the considered view that prima facie the order is not in consonance with the orders passed by this Court in the PIL (Suo Moto) 1/2021 and right of the employees under the

Constitution of India,” the court stated.

It further directed that notice be issued to the respondents making the same returnable within two weeks.

“Till the returnable date, fees should not be charged for testing from government employees and their salaries should not be stopped for reason of not having being vaccinated,” the court stated.

The court has listed the matter again on August 18.

It also added that the question on maintainability raised by advocate for respondent, state government, shall remain open.