[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n 22nd April, 2015 the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation(NVCO) met the State Chief Secretary and submitted a representation to effectively execute the common Judgement & Order dated 03.06.2014 passed by the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court which did not allowed several Unions/Associations/ Federations 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 highways. The Hon’ble Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench in its common Judgement & Order dated 03.06.2014 dismissed 11(eleven) 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 dismissed Writ Petitions includes three(3) writ petitions filed by the Petroleum and Land Transport Workers Federation of India, two(2) writ petitions filed by Dimapur Land Transport Workers Union, Dimapur District Autoriskshaw Drivers’ Union, Dimapur Motor Workers Trade Union, Dimapur Auto Riskshaw Owners’ Union, Dimapur Truck Drivers’ Union, Dimapur Truck Owners’ Associations and The Motor Workers Association, Dimapur. All these unions/associations are registered with the Govt. of Nagaland under the Trade Union Act and Registration of Societies Act and their area of operation is within Dimapur mostly lying on national/state highways such as New Field Check
Gate, Golaghat Road, Burma Camp, Dillai Gate, Old Khatkati Road, etc. The Petroleum & Land Transport Workers Federation of India was registered with the Govt. of Assam under the Trade Union Act and the area of operation was stated to be whole of North East India including Nagaland having Pay-Counter on the pretext of Information Centre at Dimapur/Kohima including a Information Centre/Pay-Counter situated at Jakhama village, above Loyola Higher Secondary School, NH-29.
While briefing the State Chief Secretary at his chamber the President of NVCO & Convener ACAUT Nagaland(legal cell) Kezhokhoto Savi said that the above mentioned High Court judgement & order is an achievement which has protected and strengthened the State Government orders and notifications which has been issued earlier in respect of banning illegal collections of cash on highways and check-gates in the state. No doubt Nagaland is a state mushrooming with illegal collections of cash by police/unions/associations/ federations/public organizations/govt. departments at the check gates and on highways which contribute to price-rise in the state and Dimapur, the so called commercial hub of the state is considered to be the most affected place. Many trucks coming from outside refused to enter Nagaland because of the forcible collection of ‘taxes’ at various-gates lying on national/state highways and there are numerous collection points at every
conceivable corner in Dimapur including the authorized and unauthorized DMC toll tax counters where truck drivers are stopped and compelled to pay some amount. All these have only added to the cost of various items and the biggest loser of all is the end user, the poor and helpless consumer.
The NVCO sincerely request the State Chief Secretary to take up immediate necessary actions to react to the above mentioned Gauhati High Court judgement and order and completely stopped the illegal collections of cash at check-gates and on national/state highways by various unions/ associations/federations/ public organization/Nagaland Police and several government departments, etc. And further request him to issue necessary instructions to all the Deputy Commissioner in the district to effectively implement it and also execute the order dated 22.06.2009 issued by the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Nagaland whereby it stated that no collection of cash would be allowed in the check-gates or in any part of the highway including any or individual, government departments such as Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes departments, etc.
The Press & Media Cell, NVCO stated that illegal collection of cash on highways and check-gates is extortion and extortion is law and order problem that the district administration is accountable to checking of its own jurisdiction. The NVCO termed the unabated taxation and illegal collection of cash at check gates, highways, markets and deduction of percentage by way of commission from public funds/contractor bill, deduction of government employees monthly salary, toll tax collection without providing any services to the tax payers, illegal dealership and syndicate system, yearly tax on property/machineries/vehicles, funds-raise by way of donation and well-wishers, etc as ‘extortion’. It is the sole duty of the government to maintain law and order for the security and safety of its citizens.
The NVCO heartily convey its sincere appreciation and support to Tuli citizens for their fight against illegal taxation at Nagaland check gate, Amguri and indefinitely fighting against any form of taxation either by factions or by Police, Veterinary, Forest, Excise and the Sales Tax departments at the gate and their action is for the interest of the Nagas. It is high time that citizens must join hands in this fight so that illegal practices going on like tradition would not pass on to generation. Let us all rise up and boldly fight against these kind of illegal and corrupt practices in the society in order to heal the society.
