NSF-Govt on collision course

Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the State government appears to be heading for a collision course over the issue of superannuation, with the students’ body adamant on its demand for fixation of length of service of government employees and the government reiterating its position that nothing can be done till an earlier order of the Gauhati High Court on superannuation was either reviewed or vacated.
In the meantime, the State Government Thursday filed a review petition – Civil Review 10 (K) 2008 -, against the judgement of Gauhati High Court dated January 18, 1993.
Stepping up pressure on the government, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has called a ban on movement of government vehicles on Friday and another 12-hour state-wide bandh on December 1, coinciding with Nagaland State inauguration day.
However, vehicles belonging to district administration, para military forces, police, medical, fire brigade, power department and media, have been exempted from the purview of Friday’s bandh to be enforced from 8 a.m till 6 p.m.
In response, the State government said it cannot remain a “mere mute spectator in such a situation”, especially when the Vice President of India had agreed to grace the inaugural of Hornbill Festival on December 1 as the chief guest.
Clarifying that there was essentially no conflict between the stand of NSF and government on the issue of fixation of maximum length of service for State government employees, State chief secretary Lalhuma in a press release however pointed out that the Government of Nagaland was earlier restrained from fixing the length of service by a judgement of the Gauhati High Court, by setting aside the ordinance issued by the State Government fixing length of service vide its judgement and order dated January 18, 1993.
“The gist of the High Court’s order was that the Government cannot have two criterias for determining the age of superannuation of its employees, namely, fixing the upper age limit as well as the length of service. In view of the judgement, which is binding on the State Government, the State Government have decided that the order of the Gauhati High Court need to be vacated or reviewed before issuing fresh order fixing the length of service,” the chief secretary said.
In a separate office memorandum, the chief secretary directed all State government employees to attend office on Friday and assured that the government had made contingency plans to ensure that government vehicles were not stopped and that office goers moving in government vehicles were not stopped.
Meanwhile, the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) in a press release also informed that the union would enforce the ban in Dimapur. It may be mentioned the NSF has also called a 12-hour bandh in the State on December 1.