Delhi High Court Directs SSC to Consider Holding Examination Centre in Hill Districts of Manipur

The High Court of Delhi has directed Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to consider holding all competitive and recruitment related examinations in the Hill districts of Manipur including Churachandpur district.

It also directed SSC to consider the affidavit filed by Kuki civil bodies 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.

In a writ petition filed by the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) regarding Examination Centres in hill districts, the Court directed that if the SSC is of the view that the examinations cannot be held in the given centre, it would ensure that an alternative arrangement is made and information regarding the same is disseminated well in time.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice, Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gadela took up the matter and passed an order on January 15, 2025.

The petitioner (KSO) has filed the present petition, inter alia, praying that directions be issued to the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) to reinstate Churachandpur, Manipur as an examination venue for recruitment examinations conducted by the Commission as scheduled in the present academic year and for the upcoming examinations in the forthcoming academic year(s).

Staff Selection Commission (SSC) had 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. SSC also submitted to the Court 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 had noted the aforesaid contentions and had directed SSC to carry out an updated assessment and file a fresh status report. In this case, the counsel for the petitioner and the State of Manipur have assured and undertaken to the Court that all cooperation should be extended to the SSC team in holding examinations at Churachandpur. The statements made by counsel for the petitioner and the State of Manipur were taken on record.

In view of the above, the Court has closed the petition and pending application has also been disposed off.