Dimapur, Oct. 30 (EMN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumer’s Organisation (NVCO) has demanded that the Nagaland government implement the judgement of the Guwahati High Court to stop extortion at check-gates and on any part of highways in the state. The NVCO issued a copy of a representation addressed to the chief secretary, on Tuesday.
The NVCO requested the government’s administration to issue necessary directives to the deputy commissioners of the districts in Nagaland to ‘effectively enforced and execute the judgement and order dated 03.06.2014 passed by the honourable Gauhati High Court, Kohima bench...’ The order disallows organisations from collecting cash/contribution at check-gates and on any national/state highways and also not to establish office/sub-office/pay-counter/information centre on any highway.
Another order, dated June 22 2009, and issued by the chief secretary banning the collection of cash or ‘tax’ by any organization or individual including government departments such as the Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes departments etc., at check gates or in any part of the highway, the NVCO stated.
The Gauhati High Court dismissed several writ petitions “since all these proceedings are structured on more or less similar facts and circumstances and give rise to some common questions of law,” the NVCO explained.
‘By this common judgement and order the honourable court consequently dismissed all the writ petitions filed by the several unions/associations/federations as these proceedings initiated by them are found to without any merit,’ the representation stated.
The organisation called the rejection of the writ petitions by the high court a blessing in disguise. “Actually the NVCO was under pressure to file a Public Interest Litigation to stop/remove the illegal collection of cash/taxes at the check-gates and on any part of the highway. The above mentioned judgement and order is a big achievement to the state government which has strengthened the orders and legalized the orders issued earlier...’ the NVCO opined. ‘Even the NVCO as well as other organization has been fighting against illegal collection of cash for the past several years.’
Nagaland is a state mushrooming with extortion by government agencies, transportation groups and public and community organisations, the organisation stated. This illegal practice contributes to price rise in the state and Dimapur, the so called commercial hub of the state is considered to be the most affected place,’ it opined.
The NVCO has appealed to the state’s government to immediately instruct the district administration to take immediate action ‘to react’ to the Gauhati High Court order and completely stop the illegal activity at check-gates and roads.
The NVCO is observing Vigilance Awareness Week from October 29 to November 3 with the theme ‘Eradicate corruption, build a new India.’ The organisation added that the theme had an even more important extension of meaning which, in the NVCO’s words, is to “build a new Nagaland.”
‘It is therefore, the NVCO most respectfully prayed and strongly demanded that the district administration may take immediate effective measures to stop/remove the elements...’ the organisation stated.
‘The illegal collection of cash at the check gates and on highways has become a menace to the Naga society and it is also the main cause towards the contribution of price rise in the markets.’
For any complaints, the NVCO stated in its representation, consumers may contact the Nagaland State Consumer Helpline Toll Free number 1800-345-3701, the press release added.
