Dimapur, June 22 (MExN): A high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister and attended by the Home minister, chief secretary and director general of police was held in the office of the chief minister today. The meeting was convened following complaints from organizations and individuals against illegal collection of taxes and extortion by “various organizations and unions etc,” across Nagaland.
The state government has decided that from now on no collection of taxes shall be made by any organization or individual including government departments such as the Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes departments among others. An order from the government appended by Chief Secretary Lalthara, IAS, said “authorized government departments may inspect the contents of goods vehicles or any other vehicle that may be necessary for enforcement of the laws of the land.”
If necessary, vehicles or goods and documents being carried can also be seized after issuing a proper “seizure memo”. However, no collection of cash will be allowed at check-gates or in any part of the highway from now on, the order stated. Also, talking tough yet again that no extortion or illegal tax collection is to be tolerated, the state government today ‘indicated’ its intention to crack down on all illegal organizations and illegal check-gates across Nagaland.
A note issued by Home Minister Imkong L Imchen has given clear instruction to deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to ban and dismantle all illegal organizations and illegal check gates across Nagaland. Departments who are authorized to collect taxes should make taxations only through government Treasury “Challans” (receipt) but not in cash, the Home minister clearly stated. Any department found collecting in cash will be liable for prosecution under relevant sections of the law, he said.
The Nagaland Home Minister has also appealed to the public not to pay taxes at any check gates unless it is a government authorized action. They should also demand receipts from police or check gates after having deposited money through Treasury “Challan”. “Anybody or any department found collecting cash money will be arrested and shall be liable for prosecution”, the directive from the Home minister stated.
All the law-enforcing departments are expected to comply with the directive so as to avoid prosecution against them, Imchen said. He also appealed to civil society and concerned individuals to come out openly against the menace of extortion in Nagaland. What remains to be seen now is concrete action from the government unlike earlier occasions.
 MEETING RESOLUTION.JPG)
