In a big blow to the outgoing office bearers of Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) has restrained the outgoing NCD office bearers from going ahead with selecting, electing or nominating any office-bearer till the next returnable date.
The court was hearing an application filed by J. Walter Longchar and others versus T. Bangerloba Ao and others over the “unconstitutional and unauthorised conduct of the outgoing office bearers” of NCD.
The Applicants told the court that the tenure of the office bearers of NCD was for five(5)years, as such the outgoing office bearers were to demit office by March 2020.
However, the Applicants stated that the Respondents “continued to exercise powers of the NCD despite expiration of their tenure” and also appointed a Selection Commission, comprising of four of the respondents “for the purpose of appointing the office bearers of the NCD for the term 2020-2024.”
The Applicants pointed out that the outgoing office bearers “had no authority to exercise such powers as they had become functus officio and thus, the appointment of the four was “invalid and would result in an undemocratic precedent, which would be totally contrary to the constitution of the NCD.”
The Applicants also approached the court in praying for temporary injunction on an urgent basis as the Selection Commission, appointed by the outgoing office-bearers, was delegated to select new office-bearers July 11,2020.
After hearing both the counsels and perusal of the material placed, the Civil Judge observed that it was a prima facie shown that the tenure of the NCD office bearers was to expire in March 2020.
While ordering issuing of notice to the respondents, the judge asked the applicants to take steps for service of summons within one week time.
The court also fixed August 13 for appearance of applicant J Walter & Others and respondents T Bangerloba & Others.
It may be mentioned that Dimapur Apex Tribal Hoho, comprising of 14 tribe hohos and several organizations have demanded that the Naga Council Dimapur constitution be followed to choose the next team.