Nagaland: High Court Orders Action Against Village Council

KOHIMA: A village council in the Mokokchung district of Nagaland had barred anyone from contesting in the upcoming elections except for the candidate they support and the Gauhati High Court has quashed this decision.

In support of Tongpang Ozukum from the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, the Mongsenyimti Riongsanger Putu Menden village council of Mokokchung had bared anyone else from participating in elections from the Angetyongpang constituency. Following this, S Moangkaba Ozukum filed a writ petition in court.

The court quashed this step and called the involvement of the village council in active politics "a very disturbing fact".

"Announcement/declaration of consensus candidates by the councils/organisations and issuing directives/diktats in favour of the consensus candidates and/or against other candidates/voters violates the right of the citizen to participate/vote as per their free will," the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court mentioned.

The court also mentioned that any attempt to influence free and fair elections will be considered an offence under sections 171C, 339 and 340 of the IPC. Another warning has been issued against any possible attack on citizens who wish to exercise their right to participate or vote in the upcoming elections.

"The village council being government agencies and auxiliary to the district administration under section 15 of the Nagaland Village Council Act, 1978, are hereby directed to refrain from any type of political activity and re- main politically neutral at all times. Non-compliance may invite disciplinary action under the relevant section of the Nagaland Village Council Act 1978 and other statutes," the court added.

The court also ordered the district authorities to take proper action against the council for this act as per the law. The Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchang has also been ordered to submit a report of the actions taken in this respect before the court within a time frame of 3 weeks.

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