A day after the State government had notified elections to the Municipal/Town councils, three organisations– Association of Kohima Municipal Ward Panchayat (AKMWP), All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) and Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation (DUCCF)– have once again reminded chief minister Neiphiu Rio to issue appropriate direction to review/amend the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 in order to fulfil the demand and aspirations of Naga people.
The presidents of AKMWP Thejao Sekhose, DUCCF Zasivikho Zakiesato and AWUMT Limanungsang, in a representation conveyed to the chief minister that till the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 was reviewed/amended, they would not compromise on their stand of not allowing or participate in the election to the urban local bodies (ULBs).
They also sought specific directive for amendment/review of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 by deleting Section 120 (1) (a) of the said Act referring to “A tax on land and building” and those provisions relating to ownership of land and building.
While considering certain provisions/sections provided under the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001, they pointed out that Naga people, who were absolute owners of the land, would become landless, which would be an infringement on the protection guaranteed to them under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India. They said that the absolute right/protection given under Article 371(A) covered the entire State of Nagaland without any classification of rural and urban areas.
