Dimapur, 1 August 2025 — In a significant development affecting the ongoing recruitment process for Excise Constables in Nagaland, the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, has issued an interim order directing that the interview process shall be subject to the outcome of a writ petition (WP(C)/128/2025) filed by 16 aggrieved candidates.
The petitioners, hailing from various districts including Dimapur, Mon, Tuensang, and Kohima, have alleged that the selection process violated the Nagaland Excise Service (Revised) Rules of 1999 and the government memorandum dated 19 July 2016, which prescribes minimum physical and medical standards for selection.
The petitioners challenged several official documents, including impugned Letter No. EX/ESTT/4/2010/556 dated 25 March 2025, Notification No. EX-1/ESTT/1/2022 dated 23 April 2025, and Corrigendum dated 4 June 2025, along with the physical test allegedly held in contravention of prescribed rules.
They have sought the quashing of these communications and requested the Court to direct the State government to constitute a proper Departmental Selection Board in line with the revised service rules. The petition also asked the Court to ensure that any physical tests be conducted strictly in accordance with standards laid out in the 2016 memorandum.
Represented by advocate Mr. Tongpok Pongener and a legal team, the petitioners argued that the formation and conduct of the current recruitment board lacked compliance with service regulations. The case was presented before Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer.
While the Learned Additional Advocate General Ms. V. Suokhrie accepted notice on behalf of the State government and other respondents, the Court directed that the recruitment interview process remain on hold pending the final outcome of the case.
This legal intervention puts a temporary brake on the recruitment of Excise Constables in Nagaland, creating uncertainty for many candidates who have been awaiting final selection. The Court has issued a notice returnable within three weeks.
The case is expected to have implications not only for the ongoing recruitment but could potentially prompt a review of how departmental selection boards are constituted in Nagaland.
