The three municipal councils of Nagaland – Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC) – along with 23 other town councils, on Tuesday, resolved not to participate nor allow any candidate to contest or file the nomination for the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections if the government fails to review the Nagaland Municipal Act (NMA) 2001.

The councils held a meeting today at Hotel 2K in Kohima to deliberate on the government notification to conduct the ULB elections on 16 May.

It informed that out of the 36 town councils, only 23 could attend however, the town councils who could not attend have also given their consensus to the 3-point resolution adopted in today’s meeting.

The meeting also resolved to strongly urge the state govt to review the entire contents of the NMA 2001, its applicability, and usages according to the reality and practicability of the Naga people before the conduct of the elections.

Further, it resolved not to allow any form of taxation on property i.e. tax on land and buildings, either in municipals or towns.

The councils also submitted a memorandum to the Principal Secretary, Municipal Affairs department this evening.

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

Zasivikho Zakiesato, President, Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), speaking to media persons after the meeting, informed that the councils have resolved that the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 should be according to the reality and practicality of the Naga people, before conducting the ULB elections.

Following the announcement of the Urban Local Body (ULB) election by the government and various civil society organisations, town municipalities voicing against it, the government had clarified that with regard to the main point of contention about the tax on land and building, the provisions relating to it have already been removed from the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 by the NMA (3rd amendment) Act 2016.

The amendment of section 120 (1) (a) states that “All references and operative provisions relating to tax on land and buildings wherever these occur in the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 shall be deemed to have been omitted”.

Zakiesato, said the councils stand is that all the words and sentences in regard to property tax, i.e., “Tax on land and buildings” should be deleted.

“Our stand is that with regard to tax on land and buildings, we want it to be deleted and the entire content also has to be reviewed.”

Mention may be made that, with some quarters requesting for replacement of the word “deleted” in lieu of “omitted”, the state govt had clarified that the words “omission, omitted and deleted” should be read as the same meaning as per legal opinion.

Also read: Nagaland: Ao Senden slams State Election Commission’s ‘dictatorial’ call for ULB election

Rengma Hoho against sections on ‘Tax on Lands and Buildings’ in NMA 2001