Urges government to remove parts of Nagaland Municipal Act that infringes on Article 371 (A)
KOHIMA, AUGUST 29 (MExN): The Kohima Village Council (KVC) has expressed concern at the recent notice issued by the Chairman of the Central Ground Water Authority, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
A press release from the KVC pointed out that there are special provisions for Nagaland under Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution which “specify and safeguard the birthright of the Nagas with regards to Naga customary laws, land and its resources.” Every individual Naga should therefore preserve and uphold this special provision given to our state, now or in the future, it stated.
The KVC said that the notice issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti is in total contravention and outright infringement of Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution. It demanded that the Nagaland Government declare the said public notice as unconstitutional and not acceptable.
The KVC said that the notice mentions tube wells, spring and other water sources within Article 215-220 of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001. “These articles are in total contravention to Article 371 (A), hence should be deleted from NMA 2001 immediately once and for all for the welfare of the Nagas, and in accordance to Article 371 (A),” it demanded.
The KVC also demanded that the Nagaland Government immediately delete Section 120 (1) (A) of part IV Chapter 1 regarding tax on land and building, along with all relevant sections that appears in the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001. It maintained that “this part of the act is detrimental to Naga society and directly infringes on Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution.”
