The public action committee of Naga Council, Dimapur, has convened a special meeting with the presidents of the tribal hohos (organisations) for a threadbare discussion on the issue “illegal tax collection” in Dimapur district on Tuesday while the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) on Monday asked the Nagaland Chief Secretary R Binchilo Thong to issue necessary directives to all the Deputy Commissioners to effectively enforce the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, order dated June 3, 2014 as well as the State Government’s standing order dated June 22, 2009 to completely ban illegal collection of cash at check gates and on any part of National Highway 29 and State highways.
The public action committee of Naga Council held a rally in Dimapur on October 31 last demanding an immediate stop to all forms of “illegal tax collection” by Naga underground organisations and Government agencies besides various unions and organisations in and around Dimapur district.
The NVCO, in a representation to the Chief Secretary, pointed out that the court had categorically directed that no union, association, federation, etc., will be allowed to collect cash or contribution at check gates and on any national or State highways and banned opening of offices, sub-offices, pay-counters and information centres on any highway.
It said similar order was issued by the State Government on June 22, 2009, banning all forms of collection by any organisations or individuals, including Government departments, at check gates or in any part of the highway. The NVCO also pointed out that the High Court Bench had dismissed around 11 writ petitions filed by several unions, associations, federations etc., as the proceedings initiated by them for opening their offices national highways and state highways were found without any merit.