Kohima, December 20 (MExN): As part of the observance of week-long National Consumer Day, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has asked the State government to maintain reasonable prices on goods and services in the state “as the price-rise is always on the rise and affects the consumers especially the common people.”
In a statement issued by its Press & Media Cell, NVCO alleged that the collection of cash at the check-gates and on highways from the carriers/truckers is the root cause of price rise in the market. “All these illegal collections of cash by Nagaland Police at the check-gates and several groups/organisations are finally realised by the helpless consumers,” it maintained.
The organisation appealed to honour the rights of the consumers as they celebrate National Consumer Day on December 24.
NVCO led by its President Kezhokhoto Savi visited several check-gates maintained by Nagaland Police in and around Kohima on December 20 and saw that several organizations, including Nagaland Police, still collect “cash/illegal collection” in highways/check-gates, the press release said. It noted that this was happening despite the State government’s standing order banning collection of cash at the check-gates/highways and the Gauhati High Court disallowing associations/ organisations/ federations/ unions to collect cash on any highway in any manner.
“The collection of cash at the check-gates/highways on the movement of goods across state should be stopped under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime,” NVCO asserted.
It reminded that the order dated June 22, 2009 issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Nagaland states that the State Government has decided that henceforth no collection of taxes shall be made by any organisation or individual including government departments such as Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes Departments etc. No collection of cash will be allowed in the check-gates or in any part of the highway henceforth, it added.
The organisation also highlighted that Gauhati High Court vide Judgement & Order dated June 3, 2014 had disallowed several unions/ associations/ federations to collect cash on highways. “However, the Petroleum and Land Transport Workers Federation of India still collects cash on trucks at a counter situated at Jakhama village above Loyola Higher Secondary School,” it further alleged.
The NVCO has asked all the District Administrations to effectively implement the government and High Court orders “so as to completely remove the illegal activity at check-gates and on highways by Nagaland Police, local public organisations, associations, unions, federation, government departments and several groups throughout the state.”
.JPG)
