A view of the Delhi High Court. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Delhi High Court has asked the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), which has suspended holding examination in Churachandpur district of strife-hit State of Manipur on account of security concerns, to “take an informed decision regarding holding of the examination in the district”.
In its January 15, 2025 Order, the Court further directed that, “if the SSC is of the view that the examinations cannot be held at the given centre, it would ensure that an alternative arrangement is made and information regarding the same is disseminated well in time.”
The court’s order came on a plea by Kuki Student Organisation seeking to directions be issued to SSC to reinstate Churachandpur as an examination venue for recruitment examinations conducted by the Commission in the present academic year and for the upcoming examinations in the forthcoming academic year.
SSC has suspended holding examination in Churachandpur, Manipur, on account of security concerns.
“The question essentially relates to whether the security concerns have been fully addressed to hold examinations in the said location. It is also submitted by SSC that it was keen to hold the examinations at the said centre but had refrained from doing so on account of security concerns,” the Court noted in its Order.
This Court had previously directed SSC to carry out an updated assessment and file a fresh status report. The counsel for SSC stated that the Commission has now sent a communication to Manipur government on December 10, 2024 seeking an assurance for assessing the security concerns.
In the communication, SSC had informed the Manipur Government of the upcoming examinations held by it including Constable (GD) Examination, 2025 from February 4 to 25, 2025.
The Commission further requested the State Government that a fresh assessment report on prevailing ground situation at Churachandpur and Ukhrul may be provided at the earliest to determine the feasibility of conducting examinations of SSC at these centres.
During the hearing, counsel appearing for Manipur Government states that it has already sent its communication to the SSC regarding the security assessment.
The petitioner’s counsel also submitted an affidavit filed by Kuki Inpi Delhi & NCR, stating, “the Kuki Inpi Manipur, and all other tribal bodies and authority structures in the control of and/or collaboration with the Kuki Inpi Manipur have time and again expressed their cooperation and willingness to ensure the smooth conduct of all competitive and recruitment related examinations conducted by the Centre and State Government in the hill districts of Manipur, including in Churachandpur district”.
“We consider it opposite to direct SSC to consider the affidavit as well as the assessment report that is stated to have been furnished to SSC and take an informed decision regarding holding of the examination in the district in question,” the court said.
Published – January 24, 2025 02:17 pm IST
