Nagaland Bar Association requests Centre to set up separate High Court

Dimapur, May 11 (EMN): The Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) has sought the help of Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju in setting up a separate High Court for Nagaland, saying that the state deserves it after 68 years of statehood.

In a representation to the Union minister, the association stated that Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya states had been granted separate High Courts, while Nagaland still placed under the Gauhati High Court.

In this regard, it said the executive committee of the association had adopted a resolution in a meeting held earlier last month to request the Ministry of Law and Justice to set a separate facility for Nagaland.

It also highlighted the importance of having personages knowledgeable about a state, especially in the context of a common High Court for multiple states.

It said that two from Nagaland — Justice LS Jamir and Justice Kakheto Sema — have been elevated to the Bench but the former had been transferred to the Manipur High Court. Citing Jamir’s knowledge about the affairs of the state and other states, it has appealed to the Ministry of Law and Justice to transfer him back to Gauhati High Court.

In a separate representation to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the NBA also urged the state government to press for setting up of a separate High Court without further delay, saying that without it, “Nagaland is not a full-fledged State”. It also reminded him of his assurance to set up a High Court during its golden jubilee celebration in 2019

“In this endeavor we assure you of the fullest support and co-operation of the Nagaland Bar Association,” read the representation.