Kohima: The Gauhati High Court just ended a hiring standoff in Nagaland. Justices Nelson Sailo and Pranjal Das ruled on June 23 that the state can move forward with its recruitment drive for 46 Excise Constable positions. This decision scraps a lower court order that previously blocked the department from using a written test.
The trouble started back in April 2025. The state initially sought 40 constables via physical and suitability tests. By June, officials added a written exam to handle the surge of 10,000 applicants. Angry candidates sued, claiming the state changed the rules mid-game. A Single Judge agreed, ordering the department to stick to the original plan.
The state fought back. They argued the 1999 rules lacked specific selection procedures and the written test was essential for fairness. The Division Bench sided with the government. They ruled the board had the right to pick the best method for finding talent. The court noted that "a degree of discretion is necessary to be left to the employer to devise its method/procedure to select a candidate most suitable for the post."
The judges also pointed out that the petitioners took part in the physical tests anyway. They ruled that applicants cannot play both sides once the process is underway. The court confirmed the exam was not arbitrary and did not violate constitutional equality. Officials now have the green light to finish the process. The court ordered the state to ensure the drive reaches its "logical conclusion."
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