High Court directs Nagaland government to modify SOP for school and college staff

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 29 (EMN): The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has directed the principal secretary of Home, government of Nagaland, to modify the standard operating procedure (SOP) for teaching and non-teaching staff ahead of the opening of schools and colleges.

A PIL has been filed before the court challenging a portion of paragraph two of the two SOPs issued by Home Department for opening of schools for students of class 11 and 12 and for re-opening of colleges and technical institutes.

The SOP stated that ‘for opening of schools and colleges, i.e., teaching and non-teaching staff should be fully vaccinated or should have taken the 1st dose of vaccine at least 15 days prior to the opening of schools or colleges be modified so that those who choose not to be vaccinated may be given the option of being compulsorily tested every 15 days’.

“After considering the submissions of the learned counsel on this and taking into account of the fact that no one can be compulsorily vaccinated, we are of the view that the option prayed for can be granted,” a bench of justices Songkhupchung Serto and S Hukato Swu observed on Wednesday.

‘Therefore, the principal secretary Home is directed to modify the SOP so as to provide option to the teaching and non teaching staff of schools and colleges,’ ruled the court, adding that PIL has been disposed off.

‘Regarding HC’s direction to file an affidavit showing the progress made in the vaccination on willing shopkeepers and vegetable vendors on priority, the comprehensive affidavit covering almost all the directions given in the order dated 20/7/2021 have been filed only on July 28. The same has not been placed before the court. Therefore, the matters stated in the affidavit would be taken up on the next date,’ it stated.

The court went on to say that it had directed the stage government in its earlier order to take some more special steps to contain the spread of the virus and for treatment of people who are already infected in those districts and file an affidavit showing the steps taken in that regard. The order passed after while taking note of the high positivity rate in five districts of the state, it said.

In this regard, the court has directed the respondent to file the same on or before the next date of hearing.