Page No.# 1/4 GAHC020002452026 2026:GAU-NL:226 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) KOHIMA BENCH Case No. : WP(C)/51/2026 SHRI L. CHONGPANG PHOM S/O LATE L. LONGSHAK PHOM, R/O LEINAK WARD, LONGLENG, NAGALAND. VERSUS THE STATE OF NAGALAND AND 3 ORS THROUGH THE CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVT. OF NAGALAND, NAGALAND, KOHIMA 2:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF NAGALAND HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NAGALAND KOHIMA 3:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS DEPARTMENT GOVT. OF NAGALAND NAGALAND KOHIMA. 4:THE DIRECTOR DIRECTORATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION NAGALAND KOHIM Advocate for the Petitioner : SHISA JAMIR, Y S PHOM Advocate for the Respondent : GOVT ADV NL, Page No.# 2/4 BEFORE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE YARENJUNGLA LONGKUMER ORDER 23.04.2026 The instant writ petition has been filed by the petitioner praying for compassionate appointment on the basis of the Office Memorandum No. AR/8/8/78 dated 17.09.2025, which is the Scheme for Compassionate Appointment of the Government of Nagaland for the next of kin of Government employees who die in harness. 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, Ms. Shisa Jamir. Also heard Ms. Seponglemla Chang, learned Government Advocate for the State respondents. 3. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner’s father died in harness on 25.01.2023, while rendering service as Duftry at Yingli College, Longleng under the Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland. Is is stated that after the demise of his father the petitioner submitted an application dated 30.11.2024 along with all the requisite documents seeking appointment on compassionate ground in accordance with the prevailing policy of the State. However, the said application was not considered. Thereafter, the petitioner again submitted a reminder application dated 26.11.2025 which is also lying unattended till date. 4. Being aggrieved by the inaction of the State respondents, the petitioner submitted an application under the RTI before the PIO of the Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland, Kohima seeking information Page No.# 3/4 regarding the appointments made on compassionate ground. By the reply dated 11.03.2026 the requisite information was furnished to the petitioner. According to the RTI reply, it was revealed that there are a total of 4 (four) applicants for appointment on compassionate ground at present, wherein the petitioner is placed at S.No. 2. It is also seen from the reply that the appointment of the applicant at S.No. 1 is already under process and as such the petitioner stands next in line for consideration for appointment. 5. Further, it is seen from the information furnished by the respondent authorities that there are 2 (two) vacancies of Grade-IV at present, i.e., the vacancy of (i) Smt. Temjennaro, Cook at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung, who retired on 01.10.2025 and (ii) Smt. Waijungla, Cook at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung, who also retired on 01.10.2025. And further the reply to the query No. 6 also reveals that 5 (five) Grade-IV posts are due to be vacated due to retirement by December 2026 and hence another 5 (five) vacancies will arise during the year 2026. 6. The learned counsel for the petitioner, therefore, prays that this writ petition may be disposed of with a direction to consider the petitioner’s case for compassionate appointment against any of the vacant post which are available or which are due to arise during 2026. 7. The learned Government Advocate, Ms. Seponglemla Chang has no objections to the said prayer and accordingly this writ petition is disposed of during the Motion stage with a direction to the respondent no. 4 to consider the case of the petitioner for appointment on compassionate Page No.# 4/4 ground against the Grade-IV vacancies available in the Department as shown by the RTI reply within a period of 4 (four) months. 8. Petition stands disposed. JUDGE Comparing Assistant