[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n 14.05.2015 Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation(NVCO) submitted several representations to the Governor of Nagaland. The NVCO request the Governor to look into the earlier representations submitted to the former Governor. The President of NVCO & Convenor ACAUT Nagaland(legal cell) Kezhokhoto Savi said that the representation has also specifically highlighted the certain illegal conduct of the government by way of incorporating terms & conditions such as “Sales tax and Work tax shall be paid extra to the contractor as applicable” in favour of few contractor firms of which the state is losing huge crores of rupees which is meant for state revenue. Actually this tax is to be deducted on the running bill of these contractors but the above mentioned term & condition had exempted them from payment of these legal taxes the best reason known to them. Another arbitrary clause is “Payment shall be made as and when fund is available” which is totally contrary to the provisions of NPWD & CPWD and it is invalid under the Indian Contract act. The NVCO request the Governor to issue direction to the state government to effectively execute the common Judgement & Order dated 03.06.2014 passed by the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench to completely stop the illegal collection of cash at the check-gates and on highways. The court did not allowed several unions/assns/ 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.
No doubt Nagaland is a state mushrooming with illegal collections of cash by police/unions/assns/ 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 Press & Media Cell state that the State Government has even failed to effectively implement 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 organisation or individual, government departments such as Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes departments, etc. Illegal collection of cash on highways and check-gates is extortion and extortion is law and order problem. In the course of interaction with the Governor at Raj Bhavan here at Kohima, apprised the Governor that the Organisation do not find any provision in appointing Parliamentary Secretary, Advisor & Chairman under the Constitution of India except the 12 ministers out of 60 seats in the case of Nagaland State as per the law.
