DIMAPUR, MARCH 22 (MExN): The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) has submitted a representation to the Nagaland Chief Minister, urging the state government to address two key issues – the Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning NPNG rules and regulations and the ongoing delimitation process for Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies.
The Suo Moto PIL, scheduled for hearing before the Division Bench of the Guwahati High Court on March 24, 2025, pertains to the constitutionality of the NPNG rules and regulations.
In its representation, the WC, NNPGs stated that the state government, as a facilitator of Naga peace talks, must inform the court that the issues being deliberated are part of the ongoing political negotiations between Naga groups and the Government of India. And that, any deliberation on the matter or a direction of the court will be an infringement on the Indo-Naga Peace talks since the subject matter has been negotiated and already has a settled position.
The WC, NNPGs further called on the state government to question why the Union of India has not updated the court on the status of the Indo-Naga peace talks.
The second issue raised by the WC, NNPGs concerned the delimitation of constituencies. The WC, NNPGs noted that during a recent Supreme Court hearing on the matter, the Solicitor General for the Government of India did not inform the court about the status of the peace talks.
The WC, NNPGs reminded the state government that the political negotiations concluded on October 31, 2019 with an agreement to increase the number of Legislative Assembly seats in Nagaland to 80, to provide representation for all 17 tribes in the state assembly and cabinet. The Government of India also agreed to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from one to three. The WC, NNPGs argued that this agreement should be considered in the delimitation process.
On delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies, the WC, NNPGs raised concerns about the validity of the previous census data, citing the ongoing implementation of the Registration of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN).
The WC, NNPGs called for an immediate halt to the delimitation process, urging the state government to convey the people’s concerns to the Union Government, particularly its failure to inform the apex court on the status of Indo Naga peace talks.
The representation, which was appended by Gen Retd M.B Neokpao Konyak) President, GPRN/NSCN (U) Convener WC/NNPG; P. Tikhak Naga, Ato Kilonser NSCN/GPRN (R) Working Convener WC/NNPG and Col Retd Isak Sumi Ato Kilonser NSCN/GPRN (K) Working Convener, WC/NNPG urged the state government to take necessary actions to safeguard the rights of the people of Nagaland.
