A Village Guard at his post in the Indo-Myanmar border village of Langnok under Noklak District in March 2021. (Photo Courtesy: Nungshitemjen Jamir)
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Morung Express News
Kohima | February 21
Despite the Court’s direction on December 5, 2022, the Nagaland Government is yet to re-constitute the committee to examine the monthly honorarium to Village Guards (VGs) of Nagaland in compliance with earlier court’s direction, the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench was informed on February 21.
The counsel for the VGs, which has filed a contempt petition against the State Government for not complying with an earlier judgement on the issue, submitted that while Chief Secretary (respondent No.1) was directed to re-constitute a committee to deliberate and “come to conclusion as to what benefits can be given to the petitioners,” so far no such committee has been re-constituted.
The counsel also called for listing the matter again in few weeks so that the counsels representing the state respondents can come with instruction as to whether the committee has been re-constituted.
In case the committee has not been re-constituted, personal appearance of the respondent may be called for, he submitted.
The counsel appearing for Chief Secretary, meanwhile, submitted that some time is needed to “obtain instruction as to whether the committee has been re-constituted.”
In view of the submissions, the single-bench judge of Justice Songkhupchung Serto listed the matter for hearing again immediately after two weeks and directed the Government Advocate to come with instruction.
The present case pertains to a writ petition filed by the Village Guards Association of Nagaland (VGAN) regarding the enhancement of their honorarium in 2017.
As per Court records, the salary of VGs in Nagaland was then fixed at Rs 1500 per month with ration allowance of Rs 25 per day while on duty and yearly clothing allowance of Rs 500.
Accordingly, observing that the VG’s salary is too meagre to meet the basic minimum needs of a person even in the remotest village of Nagaland, a HC Bench in a judgment order dated 19.11.2017 directed the State Government to “examine and raise the same to a reasonable level but no less than that of the Home Guards of the State.” The Home Guards’ salary then was Rs 520 per day.
While a two-month period was given to the State Government to complete the exercise, the latter filed an appeal against the judgment. Thereafter, a Division Bench of the Court on 07.02.2019 directed the State Government to constitute an Expert Committee to examine and determine the issue in consultation with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (Northeast Division).
A time-frame of four months was given to complete the exercise.
While an 8-member committee was constituted to examine the issue, with no positive outcome, the VGAN filed the contempt petition in February 2022.
Accordingly, the December 5 order directed for the reconstitution of the committee and completion of the process within a period of four months from the date of its formation.
However, the Committee is yet to be re-constituted as per the petitioner’s counsel on February 21, resulting in the new HC directive.
