Dimapur, Oct 20 (MExN): The NSCN-K stating what it said was the ‘deteriorating justice system and increase in burden of common Nagas,’ any ‘judgments’ passed by the NSCN-IM on judicial matters pertaining to any issues falling within Union Territory-1 shall be treated null and void ‘exceptional of cases sanctioned by traditional and customary Naga courts.’
“Nagas have been endowed with competent institutions for administration of justice like village councils, DB’s courts etc basing on inherent traditional and customary ethos where judgments are administered without biasness. There is no such a procedural complication or monetary and material expenses involved unlike modern courts. Should gravity and severity of cases require intervention of higher justice hierarchies, we are still provided with Lok Adalats, district courts, administrative machineries or for the matter High Courts. Though these institutions are not favorably recommended since it involves Indian Laws” according to a statement issued by Akato Chophi, UTI-1 Supervisor . It stated that due to the “forceful interference of IK even in petty feuds within and between individuals and villages especially in Union Territory-1” a ‘complete breakdown of less expensive and timely traditional justice administration of the Nagas’ has been impacted. This has resulted in many weaker and less affluent sections of the society becoming “victims of arbitrary judgment of IK gang influenced by money and muscle power.”
Such cases of over riding rulings are increasingly reported everyday where victims are not only denied justice but huge financial penalties are exacted besides undue harassments, ceding of properties and assets to IK and connivers etc is gaining unprecedented proportions, it stated. “Any complainant seeking justice from IK gang would be penalized in accordance to law of the land and in consultation to Traditional and Customary authorities. Every villages, towns, colonies or ward authorities are directed to keep vigil on such activities also to take stock of such situations and inform GPRN UT-1 authority at an appropriate time if deemed necessary” the NSCN-K informed.
