Nagaland government spokesperson Minister K. G. Kenye on Thursday informed that the State government will constitute a panel to consult different sections of the Naga society to frame a new Municipal law according to the local customary, social and religious practices and traditions.

“There is no time frame, but the government is aware of the urgency in re-enacting a new law to substitute the old one. So, we will lose no time,” said Kenye while addressing the media here at Hotel Japfü, Kohima.

Admitting that the State’s Municipal Act was borrowed from another state where Municipal law was already implemented, Kenye said that there were oversights on the part of the then executive as well. “With due apology, they should have framed our own law. It was a gross oversight on their part that the legislative assembly was made to adopt the act in haste.”

Adding that the act was enacted without realising that it will contravene the social practices as protected in Article 371A he said, it was not in consonance with the views and stand of the Naga people.

“After 22 years since the enactment of our Municipal Act, we have reached a stage where we had to relook, and the NLA resolved to completely repeal the act,” Kenye said.

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The Minister also said that some sections of the media have exaggeratedly reported that CM Rio’s government was charged with contempt of court for repealing the municipal act, to which he said was unfounded and baseless and clarified that there was no contempt of court.

“There is a gross misconception on the part of all concern that there was a contempt of court. This is badly miscarried. It is not a contempt of court when they have not put that word in writing,” added Kenye.

Further, he maintained that the court has not been appraised of the provisions of those Articles and Sub clauses which refers to the Naga customary laws, religious and social practices and others. He said, the court have asked for more information on this Articles and the state’s legal team will be presenting the matter on 1 May. We expect the court to give a just judgement to our case here, said Kenye.

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