DIMAPUR, July 12 � The almost 10-month-long battle between the Government of Nagaland and senior government employees in the court of law is finally over. The much awaited superannuation case verdict has gone in favour of the State Government as the Supreme Court gave its ruling against the Nagaland Senior Government Employees Welfare Association (NSGEWA).
In what is being termed as a landmark judgement in a battle between the government and its employees, the apex court last week dismissed the appeal of the petitioners, NSGEWA, against the implementation of the Retirement Act, official sources confirmed.
Mention may be made here that on losing the battle against the implementation of the Nagaland Retirement Act 2009 in the Principal Bench of the Gauhati High Court on October 31, 2009, the NSGEWA had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court arguing that it is their Constitutional Right to serve the Government and that they cannot be simply thrown away by passing an Act.
The apex court�s verdict comes exactly a year after the retirement bill was passed in the Nagaland Assembly. After conducting the first hearing on November 6, 2009, it had adjourned the case till January 19, 2010. However, engaged with other important cases, the case was taken up on February 9 only to be adjourned again for the second time. The third hearing was conducted on May 4 and the judgement delivered on July 7.
It may be recalled that the State Government had passed the Nagaland Retirement from Public Employment (Second Amendment) Bill 2009 in July last year. The Bill prescribes that a person shall hold office for a term of 35 years from the date of joining office or until the attainment of 60 years of age, whichever is earlier.
The implementation of the Act is expected to create over 3,500 vacancies in the State Government offices.
