KOHIMA, Oct 5 � The Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Gauhati High Court against the State Government�s job reservation policy for backward tribes in Nagaland and the final hearing of the case was taken up on October 4.
Chairman of the Committee on Reservation and Member of CPO Theja Therieh said the CPO had filed the PIL challenging the Government notification on Job Reservation issued on July 23, 2008, for want of legal interpretation on its validity. The suit was filed on February 20, 2010, and so far six hearings have been taken up but the case has seen continued extensions with advocates representing the Government of Nagaland seeking more time, he said.
Stating that the job reservation notification of 2008 divides the backward tribes with further classifications as six tribes from Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire have been given 25 per cent job reservation while the Chakhesang, Pochury and Zeliangs have been given only 8 per cent job reservation, he said adding this has violated the fundamental right to equality.
�The notification that genuinely attempts to increase and expedite the process of advancing a section of people has abruptly violated the rights of another section of similarly situated people,� he asserted, adding that the CPO is simply asking for parity and proportionate reservation till such time the Government identifies unique differences to review and affect necessary changes as deemed fit and proper.
�What really upsets the Chakhesangs today is the random discrimination and all forms of prejudice. There are systematic attempts to pull us backward by stripping us from all the benefits meant for the backward tribes,� he stated. He also pointed out that the Chakhesang tribe is the only backward tribe excluded from the Directorate of Under Developed Areas despite reports projecting several pockets in the district, particularly Tizu range, as the most backward and remote area.
Therieh also maintained that the CPO is not against the demand of the six tribes from Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng districts asking for enhancement of quota reservation keeping in view the ground realities and poor representations in the Government services. But the Government should not deprive the other backward tribes, he averred.
Meanwhile, dwelling on competitive examinations conducted by the NPSC this year, the CPO member said since the reservation issue is in the court, the candidates are likely to face problems if at all the court disposes the case in CPO�s favour.
He also feels that the present mass recruitment of LDAs against vacancies arising out of Nagaland Retirement Act, 2009 may have some serious repercussions that may disturb the social harmony and oneness of Naga tribes irrespective of tribes and colours.
He pointed that the existing BT reservation policy norms were completely ignored in the district level vacancies in 10 districts barring Dimapur. He said that in the case of the directorate vacancies, the Government completely segregated the BTs from the advanced group reserving 67.40 per cent absolutely for the advanced tribes and confined the BTs, who otherwise comprise 50 per cent of the State population, to a mere 32.60 per cent and totally deprived the weaker sections that are educationally and economically backward and are not adequately represented in the Government services.
Further, Therieh said that conducting separate interviews for advance and backward tribes have not only deprived the BTs from availing job through open competition but created class system in the classless Naga society.
