Kohima, September 26 (MExN): The Nagaland State Legislative Assembly Cabinet has now formed a Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) to examine the tribe recognition issue in the State.
A press release from Cabinet Secretary, Pankaj Kumar, informed that the CSC will consist of nine Cabinet members who will look into the matter “in its all aspects” as well as submit its recommendations at the earliest to the State Government for further action. This was decided at a Cabinet meeting held on September 26 that discussed the “recent reports in the media about the statements on the Rongmei issue made by several Tribal Hohos.”
The CSC will consist of Ministers Dr. Niekiesalie Nicky Kire (Environment, Forest & CC) as Convenor, P. Longon (Health & Family Welfare) as Co-convenor and the Members will be Ministers Y. Patton (Home), Tokheho Yepthomi (PHED), Kipili Sangtam (Power), Nukutoshi (Mechanical, National Highways), C.L. John (Rural Development), Yitachu (School Education), and Y. Vikheho Swu (Roads & Bridges). The press release further informed that during the meeting, the Cabinet took into consideration the fact that “recognition of the Rongmei tribe as one of the Naga tribes of Nagaland” was previously made by the Cabinet on July 23, 2012 and consequently Notification No. HOME/SCTA-6/2007 (Pt.I) dated August 4, 2012 was issued by the Home Department.
The Cabinet also noted that the matter was under litigation in WP(C) No. 4519/2012 in the Gauhati High Court (Zeliang People Organization vs. State of Nagaland & Ors), which had passed an Interim Order on November 22, 2012, and that the matter was sub judice.
The Cabinet Secretary also informed that it was also brought to the notice of the Cabinet that the report of the Committee, constituted vide Home Department’s Notification No. HOME/SCTA-6/2007 (PT-II) dated April 3, 2014, under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to examine the issues relating to recognition of tribes, was yet to submit its report.
