Following the Gauhati High Court Kohima bench order of January 31, quashing the resolution adopted by Mongsenyimti village vis-à-vis endorsing a village consensus candidate to contest from 24 Angetyongpang assembly constituency in the assembly polls and also issuing directive to the deputy commissioner (DC) Mokokchung to take appropriate steps, the District Magistrate (DM) Mokokchung Shashank Pratap Singh has directed presidents of Mongsenyimti Riongsanger Putu Menden/Village Council and Mongsenyimti Senso Mungdang to withdraw all resolutions/orders/directions/press releases and submit a compliance report to the district magistrate’s office within seven working days from the date of issuance of the order.
The court on January 31, 2023 ruled that the resolutions/orders/directions/press release issued from the office of Mongsenyimti Riongsanger Putu Menden/Village Council and Mongsenyimti Senso Mungdang on December 28, 2021, June 1, 2022, October 7, 19 and 25, 2022 were not only against the spirit of free and fair election, but also violated the statutory rights of the individuals of Mongsenyimti village to participate/contest in the election on the basis of free will.
Further, the DM also directed the president of the Putu and Senso to appear before the DM’s court at 11 am on February 15 positively, cautioning that non-compliance could invite penal and other legal action as per the relevant section of law.
It also noted that Rionsanger Putu Menden of Mongsenyimti village was openly indulging in politics by supporting one particular candidate and debarring other citizens of the village to contest from 24 Angetyongpang constituency.
The high court also noted that the resolutions/orders/directions/press releases were in violation of various standing notifications/instructions of Election Commission of India (ECI) and punishable under sections 171C, 339, and 340 of IPC.
The DM said that Mongsenyimti Riongsanger Putu Menden/Village Council and Mongsenyimti Senso Mungdang had been openly indulging in politics which, being a government agency and auxiliary to the district administration under section-15 of Nagaland Village Council Act, 1978, was unlawful.
