Declare LH memo null and void: Lotha public organization

Lotha public organization (LPO) has urged the state home department to declare “null and void” the Lothe Hoho (LH) memorandum, which dissolved Lotha Baptist Churches Association (LBCA)
In a press release, LPO president Sulanthung Humtsoe and vice president Phyobemo Odyuo stated that LH memorandum invoking Article 371(1) (A) and 16 Point Agreement of the state of Nagaland was arbitrary and “cannot stand the test of the law”. LPO stated that the apex tribal hoho was a statutory body as per the Nagaland village and Tribal council Act, 1978 (fourth Amendment) 2009, section 23-27. However, LOP said the Act did not empower the tribal Hohos to overrule the religious institutions or any organization.
Further, LPO stated that since from the inception of LH, there had been “no peaceful atmosphere” in the Lotha community as the organization was formed without proper guidelines.
On the imbroglio of LBCA, the LPO alleged that LH led by Er. Mhondamo Ovung and Abenthung Ngullie have lost all moral rights to lead the Lotha people.
LPO, therefore, demanded that the duo step down immediately and pave the way for the new leadership, who can lead the Lotha community “with a clear vision and God’s wisdom”. LPO also appealed to the Baptist Church members to reconcile and come together to maintain the sanctity of the LBCA. Meanwhile, LPO stated that state government, after going through the “documents of the ongoing spar between the members of Lotha Baptist Churches”, have wisely given its direction to the church members to maintain status quo as on March 18, 2022 (before formation of interim body) till the outcome of the litigation, which was lying pending in Gauhati High Court Kohima bench. It said the records showed that the present dispute over the authority of LBCA started after the Lotha Hoho, without any authority, selected an interim body of LBCA on March 18, 2022 in spite of the fact that there was existing body, which was legally constituted and a disputed case was pending disposal in the Gauhati High Court, Kohima bench.
LPO pointed out that the Court by order dated February 3, 2022 gave a direction to the Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC) to sort out the dispute. It said that the court had, at no point in time, given any authority to the LH to meddle in the LBCA imbroglio.
In spite of the government directive to maintain status quo, LPO said the interim body was attempting to proceed with their activities defying the government directions June 10, 2022. On the other hand, LPO said the Lotha Hoho was claiming that they have not interfered in the government directives. In this regard, LPO reminded the Lotha Hoho that “ignorance is not an excuse”. It said that the present dispute was to displace the officially elected LBCA by an interim body installed by the Lotha Hoho. Therefore, LPO said Lotha Hoho was solely responsible for the present dispute of LBCA.