KOHIMA, JULY 6: Following the twenty Public Interest Litigations (PILs) which were filed with the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench in November 2015 by the Human Rights Law Network, Nagaland, eight more PILs were reportedly came up on July 5.
The PILs filed involve the District Hospital Dimapur, CHC Sanis Town Wokha, PHC Thonoknyu, Tuensang, PHC Sakraba, Thipuzu Phek, PHC Piphema, Pherima, Chumukedima, Sub Centre Kuisam under Kiphire, Sub-Centres Khuzama, Bayavü, Jotsoma under Kohima and Sub Centre Meriema, Thizama, Chiedema under Kohima.
The PILs filed involved absence of doctors, inadequate staffs, technicians, poor basic amenities and poor infrastructures.
This was informed by Rosemary Dzüvichü, social activist in a press conference held this evening at De Oriental Grande, who regretted that even after a lapse of five months, the Health Department has not been able to submit their replies to the court till now.
She said they have been asking for time and more time, amounting to 6 times, which she said is very unfortunate on their part ‘if we are to litigate and ask for people’s right to health, especially women’s right to productive health services, we are heading nowhere’.Due to the lack of response from the department, she informed that the lawyer representing the petitioners have appealed the Judge to summon the erring officers to the court.
On the PIL filed for setting up of State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), she informed this has been disposed off since the direction from the Supreme Court to setup the commission is already there, and that it has been following up with the state government to set the commission at the earliest.
Stating on the need to have the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Dzüvichü said ‘looking at the scenario of conflict and violation of human rights over the years with AFSPA, and with the extension of the Disturbed Area Act, it has become all the more important to have SHRC’.
Another case which has been disposed off is the PIL filed to set up Fast Track Court, wherein she informed that the government has been asked to see whether necessary courts can also be setup in dealing with these kinds of cases so that the cases are disposed off.
On the Education Certificate of MP, Neiphiu Rio, Dzüvichü informed that in the hearing held on June 27 in the court of Lady Judge, the counsel of the respondent is said to have told the Judge that they had appealed to the Session Judge for transfer of the case. However, the appeal was rejected due to the failure by the counsel to produce the stay order.
She informed that in the condonation of delay case hearing held on June 27, the judgment is reserved. The case is listed for hearing on July 8.
Stating that the case has been so politicized, Dzüvichü said this has nothing to do with politics, but purely a case to do with academics and what is wrong in our society. Terming the case as a serious and high profile case which has been delayed, she informed that there are threats to other people.
She informed that the respondent has asked for a transfer of case citing the case as a politically motivated case, however Dzüvichü asserted that it will oppose the stay order and transfer of case stating that it is literally holding academic to ransom.
On the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed in the Supreme Court with regard to the embezzlement of Rs 62 crore under National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) Nagaland, she informed that the Supreme Court has made the Central government and CBI respondent to the case. ‘We are awaiting the date for hearing at the court’ informed Dzüvichü.
Also on the 33% women reservation case, Dzüvichü said they are ready for a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, wherein it will be filing on non implementation of the Supreme Court’s order, which is very clear.
She said it has held series of meetings with the legal adviser to the Election Commission of India on this issue, where it was clearly made known that when a division bench judgment or order is vacated the single judge order is instantly revived.
PIL were also filed on Anganwadi for implementation of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 and also on lack of proper registration of Birth and Death Registration in the state.
