In a bid to safeguard the rights of indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland government has issued new guidelines for the issuance of the Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate (IIC). The updated criteria, outlined in an official notification, aim to streamline the process and ensure only eligible citizens of recognized tribes receive the certificate.
As per the notification dated September 20, issued by the Home commissioner Vyasan R, the IIC will be issued to members of 15 recognized Naga tribes- Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Konyak, Khiamniungan, Lotha, Pochury, Phom, Rengma, Sumi, Sangtam, Tikhir, Yimkhiung, Zeliang, with Kachari, Kuki, Garo and Mikir (Karbi) tribes as notified vide ‘The Constitution (Nagaland) Scheduled Tribes Order, 1970 who are resident in the State, and are considered as Indigenous Inhabitant of Nagaland provided that the person can trace their antecedents to a recognized village in Nagaland.
There shall be in every recognized village, a Village Verification Committee to be nominated by the Village Council Chairman consisting of—i. a member of the village council (convenor); Head GB or senior most (by age) Gaon Bura; president of village youth organization; head teacher GMS/GPS; female VDB member; representative of the village women’s organization; representatives of the Khels in villages where the Khel system is in place and one representative(s) from the Church in the village.
It said that the list of committee members must be conveyed to the office of the Deputy Commissioner concerned through the area administrative officer before January 10 every year. Only members of the committee who are officially intimated to the DC may verify IIC applications.
The application forms will be available in all DC and ADC offices upon payment of Rs. 200, inclusive of the charge for the certificate. The village verification committee shall be the authority to verify and attest applications forms, with particulars claimed by the applicants for IIC- a) The name of the father and mother along with their village; b) The names of the paternal grandfather and the paternal great grandfather along with their village; c) If there has been any case of adoption at any level, the applicant shall be required to disclose the details.
This is to be verified by the Village Verification Committee. Withholding or misrepresentation of any information in this regard by the applicant or the village verifying committee will be tantamount to claiming of false identity and liable for criminal prosecution and d) The Village Verification Committee shall keep a written record of its meetings with attendance and recommendations made for each application received.
This is to be produced for the verification of the area Administrative officer whenever required The application form duly filed and verified by the Village Verification Committee will be submitted to the area Administrative Officer, along with the requisite documents as proof of identity and residence as listed.
The area Administrative Officer upon being satisfied that the application is complete and genuine, will forward it to the DC’s office with their recommendations within a period of 5 working days. If the Officer is not satisfied, he/she may carry out additional verification and then forward to the office of the Deputy Commissioner with his/her recommendations within a period of 10 working days.
The DC’s office will examine all such applications that are recommended by the area Administrative officers. The application for issue of IIC shall be mandatorily processed in file and the officer in charge of the branch concerned of the DC’s office shall certify in file that all the particulars filled up in the application form have been examined and found to be true and give a clear and unambiguous opinion in regard to the eligibility of the applicant for getting the IIC.
The approval for issue of IIC shall mandatorily be given by the Deputy Commissioner only in file. Thereafter which, the DC and in his/her absence the ADC (HQ) shall issue the IIC.
It further said that each IIC issued shall contain a unique number which will be permanent and non-transferable. Henceforth, any reapplication for a format must quote the unique IIC number and new or re-issued certificates will have the same number.
The DC as the issuing authority is empowered to refuse or cancel an IIC if it is found that the claims made by the applicant are found to be false.
Any application where there has been an adoption of the applicant or his/her parents whether from within the indigenous Naga community or otherwise must be referred to the P&AR department for decision.
The DC will send monthly reports of all certificates issued and rejected, to the office of the Commissioner, Nagaland and also daily upload the details of all such certificates issued on the office website.
It further warned that submission or authentication of false information by the applicant or any community-based authority for the issue of IIC will be tantamount to a criminal offence. The certificate of the applicant if issued on false claims will be cancelled and any benefits accrued on its basis will also be cancelled.
The members of the Village Verification Committee that authenticated the false claims shall also be penalized by being removed from office and shall be debarred from holding any office for 5 (five) years: besides actions against them under the appropriate provisions of law.
Further, government servants under whose charge such an offence is detected shall be liable for disciplinary action. If criminal offence is established, the officer shall be charged under the appropriate provisions of the law and action taken accordingly. The case against the officers, whether disciplinary or criminal must be brought to a logical conclusion where he/she is either exonerated or appropriate penalty is imposed/awarded.
The notification stated that the following documents are to be submitted along with the application form to the area administrative officer: Proof of identity– physical identification mark; anyone of the following i. Class X admit card; ii. Aadhaar card; iii. Passport.
Proof of residence (any one of the following)– i. Passport; ii. Aadhaar card; iii. Bank pass book; iv. Driving License and v. Ration Card.
It has also been made mandatory that newborn children of indigenous inhabitants must register for the IIC within six months of birth in the requisite form along with the birth certificate and copy of IIC of the parents. The unique registration number must be quoted when applying for an IIC later when required.
The Home department informed that the provisions of this notification will come into force with effect from the date of issue of this Office Memorandum. The notification has been issued in pursuance of Cabinet decision dated September 12, 2024.