Gauhati High Court suspends Chedema Village Council resolution pending hearing on land dispute involving descendants of late Zebu-o Chakruno
DIMAPUR — The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has suspended the operation of a Chedema Village Council resolution that threatened to strip members of a family of village rights, benefits and leadership opportunities over a pending land dispute.
The interim order, passed by Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer on July 24, also stayed the implementation of a newspaper publication reproducing the same resolution until the next date of hearing.
The petitioners—Zedikoulie Chakruno, Keneisa O Chakruno, Nouneholie Chakruno and Kiyakhrielie Chakruno—had moved the High Court seeking an interim stay on the Chedema Village Council's resolution dated July 5, 2026.
According to court records, the village council had directed the descendants of late Zebu-o Chakruno to comply with earlier resolutions adopted in 2019 and 2024 by July 15, failing which they would face punitive measures from July 16.
The resolution stated that the descendants would lose all rights and benefits extended by the government and the village, would not be issued any village documents, would be barred from holding leadership positions, and that anyone supporting them could face similar consequences.
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The petitioners informed the court that they had already filed a writ petition, WP(C) No. 114/2026, challenging the legality of the July 5 resolution. They also submitted that they, along with four others, had instituted a civil suit before the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Kohima, seeking a declaration on the ownership of the land where the Government Middle School at Chedema is located. The title suit is currently pending.
The petitioners argued that despite the pendency of both the civil suit and the writ petition, the village council proceeded with the impugned resolution and later published it in a local daily on July 18.
Taking note of the submissions and the pendency of the main writ petition, the High Court directed that both the July 5 village council resolution and the newspaper publication dated July 18 "shall remain suspended till the next returnable date."
The court also recorded the appearance of the government advocate for the State of Nagaland and the deputy commissioner, Kohima, while directing the petitioners to serve notice on the chairman of the Chedema Village Council within three working days.
The matter has been directed to be listed after two weeks along with the pending writ petition.