The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CNCCI) has welcomed the recent order issued by the Department of Municipal Affairs, Nagaland vide Order No. MA-125/2015/Pt-II dated February 23, 2026, directing all Municipal Councils and Town Councils to immediately cease the collection of tolls, urban utility taxes, vehicle entry fees and other such levies across the State.

While appreciating the latest directive, the CNCCI stated that it was important to place on record the history of repeated Government assurances and subsequent failures in enforcement.

The Confederation recalled that the ban on illegal check gates and arbitrary collections had earlier been strongly pursued by CNCCI through an all-Nagaland shutter down agitation, a movement that compelled the State Government to constitute a Committee under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton.

Following that development, the Municipal Affairs Department had issued Order No. MA-23/2020 (Pt.II) dated November 16, 2021, clearly directing that “Collection of any kind of taxes/fees on items/goods that come under the GST regime shall be immediately stopped by all Municipal and Town Councils across the State of Nagaland.” However, the CNCCI expressed regret that several Municipal and Town Councils failed to adhere to this directive and resumed various forms of taxes and collections, thereby undermining not only the authority of the Government but also the Committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister.

In response to what it described as non-compliance, the CNCCI once again resorted to an all-Nagaland shutter down, which subsequently led to the issuance of another crucial order by the Home Department, Nagaland dated May 19, 2022 (Order No. CON-1/G/41/2011). That order banned all check gates in the State except inter-state police check gates, prohibited illegal collection of money at check gates and other locations, explicitly covered Government departments, associations, unions and other entities, and provided for punishment of violators under Sections 188 and 384 of the IPC.

In a statement issued by CNCCI Chairman, Dr Khekugha Muru and General Secretary, Avi Chase, the CNCCI stated that the implementation of the May 19, 2022 order had temporarily resulted in the closure of illegal gates and collections across the State, bringing significant relief to consumers and the business community. However, it expressed concern that even this order was subsequently violated by certain Government departments, Municipal Councils and Town Councils. Such repeated disregard for official directives, the Confederation said, raises serious questions regarding the existence of rule of law in the State.

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Referring to the February 23, 2026 order of the Municipal Affairs Department, the CNCCI said that although it welcomes the reiteration of the ban on tolls, urban utility taxes and vehicle entry fees, it remains cautious.

Experience, it observed, has shown that the mere issuance of Government orders without strict monitoring and enforcement by the issuing authority reduces such directives to mere eyewash in the eyes of the public. This recurring pattern, it said, has eroded the confidence of consumers, the market and the business community, making several Government orders appear ineffective.

While appreciating the latest directive, the CNCCI firmly demanded strict, visible and time-bound enforcement of both the November 16, 2021 and May 19, 2022 orders. It further called upon the Home Department to immediately implement its May 19, 2022 directive in letter and spirit, alleging that certain Government departments have once again begun collections at various gates, directly undermining existing State Government orders.

The Confederation made it unequivocally clear that under no circumstances would it accept any relaxation or backdoor reintroduction of such collections. It warned that any attempt to revive illegal tolls or fees would be strongly opposed and asserted that the Confederation would not hesitate to take democratic action, including going to the streets, to safeguard consumers, the market system and the business community at any cost.

Stressing the need for consistency in governance, the CNCCI stated that orders must not only be issued but must be enforced. It maintained that only through firm implementation can public trust be restored and governance failures prevented in the State.