Demands withdrawal of notification on Nepal/Gorkha census in Kma
A recent notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohima and published on August 22, 2023 with regard to publication of draft updated list of non-Naga local indigenous “Nepal/Gorkha” residents under Kohima district qualifying for inclusion in the list up to June 11, 2016, has the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) up in arms.
NTC media cell, described the notification as “disturbing for the fact that is has substituted the constitutionally delegated Nagaland government’s standing notification No.AR-8/8/76 dated Kohima the 28th of April 1978.
NTC pointed out that the notification maintained that the cut off year for the purpose of recognising indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland is 1-12-1963. However, NTC noted that for the same purpose, the DC Kohima Shanavas C has an “imaginary qualifying month and year with cut off date as June 11, 2016.”
Reacting to the DC’s notification, NTC pointed out that the state commission’s report on Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) had not even become a law. However, it said that an individual as authority in the government, without mentioning RIIN, wanted to arbitrarily enforce in advance Part-D of RIIN report under “recommendations” at P/58, E. Proof of permanency of residence: “(1) Electoral Roll from 1963 to 2019 with a personal declaration of not having been enrolled in any other State”.
NTC described the notification issued by the DC as “highly irregular” which has hurt the sentiments of the local people. The council reiterated that its objection was raised against the notification of the DC for inclusion of Nepal/Gorkha census with qualifying date for inclusion as upto June 11, 2016.
NTC said this notification raises questions on the soundness of what the state’s policy was, the Act and law of the land that the DC been directing such exercises authoritatively.
It alleged the that the DC’s notification violated the state government’s April 28, 1978 notification that maintained December 1, 1963 as the cut-off date for the purpose of indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.
NTC clarified that it encouraged conducting census of the Nepal/Gorkhas who had settled in Nagaland on or before December 1, 1963 and maintaining digital records and updating their offspring and descendants, but not otherwise.
Rather, the council said that non-Naga Nepal/Gorkhas who had settled in Nagaland prior to December 1, 1963 had on many occasions expressed their desire that the aforementioned cut-off date be maintained in Nagaland.
“The state of Nagaland is not a dumping territory where everyone could become Indigenous on entry. This belief is wrong and unacceptable,” NTC stated. In the light of the above, NTC urged the state government to immediately direct the DC to withdraw the notification.
The council also insisted that the government to “incorporate the constitutionally delegated notification” of April 28, 1978, maintaining cut-off year of ‘1-12-1963’ for the purpose of Indigenous Inhabitant in the state as “Recommendation No. 1”
It also said that the recommendation of Proof of permanency of residence at P/58, “E. Proof of permanency of residence” as mentioned should be immediately deleted if not in consonance with 1-12-1963, for the sake of peace and tranquility in the State of Nagaland.
On August 21, DIPR had mentioned that DC Kohima, Shanavas C issued a notification regarding the publication of the draft updated list of Non-Naga Local Indigenous Nepal/Gorkha residents under Kohima district. The qualifying date for inclusion in this list is up to June 11, 2016, it said. Further, the notification also stated that the period for filing claims and objections was scheduled from August 22, 2023 to September 5, 2023.