DIMAPUR:
In a major relief for the student community, the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, on February 2, directed the Nagaland government to allow online admission to unvaccinated students in Class 9 and above.
In an order, Justice S Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema also asked the state government and principal director of school education Shanavas C to allow the unvaccinated students to attend classes provided they come tested with RT PCR.
“Any student of Class 9 and above, who has completed 15 years of age, shall be allowed to take admission or attend regular/offline classes only if he/she has taken at least one dose of vaccine against COVID-19. It should be re-examined by the state government keeping in view the situation in the state and its implications,” the court order said. The order covers all the schools and colleges in the state.
The Rising People’s Party (RPP), through its advocate Neiteo Koza, had challenged the order of the state government (NSDMA-ER-COVID 19/301/220 (part 2) dated 8.01.2022 and the order ED/AEI-28/2021 dated 11.01.2022) issued by the principal director of school education not to allow unvaccinated students of Class 9 and above to attend regular classes through PIL 2/2022.
“People who care for civil liberties should be grateful that we have judges who’re willing to uphold the rights of the citizens at a time when the state is exercising draconian power to curtail our freedom,” the RPP said.
The RPP appealed to the school and college authorities to strictly adhere to the court’s order. It said scores of worried parents complained to the grievances cell of the party with regard to the apathy of the state government and the authoritative attitude of the school education department.