Highway Check-gates in Nagaland a Nuisance: NVCO

Yesterday i.e 19th April 2017 around 6.18 p.m while the President of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organization(NVCO) Shri. Kezhokhoto Savi was returning from his native village with family there was a long queue of trucks and other vehicles at Phesama Nagaland Police check-gate and as his vehicle reaches the check-gate he saw several handyman/drivers giving cash to policeman on duty, Mr. Savi had realized that the long queue was simply because of illegal collection of cash where Kohima Municipal Council(KMC) tool tax counter and Southern Angami Public Organisation(SAPO) tax counter were also lying at the check-gate. Mr. Savi came down from his vehicle and slapped one handyman/driver while handing over cash to police and had also scolded the police for their indulge in illegally taking cash and had also told them that they deserve suspension as they are violating Government standing orders not to collect cash at the check-gates or on any highways. Of course this is nothing new even on earlier occasions police defended themselves that they do not collect cash but the drivers or handyman use to give.

In the year 2006 the NVCO had submitted a representation to the State Government to stop illegal collection of cash on highways especially at the check-gates where the NVCO had also submitted detailed information with/without receipt including Chumukedima check-gate, Sechu, Zubza, Kohima, Bye-Pass check-gate, Kohima, Phesama check-gate, Kohima, etc. of which the President NVCO Kezhokhoto Savi had personally paid to all those counters and subsequently led to suspension of a good number police personnel on duty at that point of time and in this regard Kezhokhoto Savi was summoned to the office of the Director General of Police, Nagaland and in the proceedings the officer concerned said that though several police personnel were suspended on the complaint of Kezhokhoto Savi(President NVCO) but the enquiry found out that no police was collecting cash but the cash was given to them by the drivers/handyman. In the presence of officials Mr. Savi asked the suspended police personnel as to how they allow vehicles to pass the gate, one of the suspended police personnel said that vehicles/trucks were allow to go only after payment i.e cash is given to the police personnel on duty which makes the proceeding more interesting and of course the officer must be embarrass as the main object of defense was defeated. Many police especially the low ranking police personnel aimed at police check-gate as lucrative to make money and never bother for Government standing orders which prohibit them to do so.

Passing orders is easier than enforcing it. There was incidences and certain exercises, lifting up check gates, issuing several orders, calling Chakka Jam, bandh and even to extent of dismantled several check-gates in Kohima district did not seem to act as a remedy as tax collections including collection of cash by Nagaland Police in all the check gates, several exorbitant toll taxes collected by municipal and town council in all the district and several organization/groups including government agencies collection cash on the highways continues to be blatantly collected with impunity well throughout the state. Earlier the NVCO had submitted several representations to the State Government with a sincere request to effectively execute the order dated 22.06.2009 issued by the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Nagaland whereby it stated that no collection of cash will be allowed in the check-gates or in any part of the highway including any organization or individual, government departments such as Police, Excise, Forest and Taxes departments, etc. The Hon’ble Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench in its common Judgement & Order dated 03.06.2014 dismissed 11(eleven) several Writ Petitions and several unions/associations/federation including the Petroleum and Land Transport Workers Federation of India, Dimapur Land Transport Workers Union, Dimapur District Autoriskshaw Drivers’ Union, Dimapur Motor Workers Trade Union, Dimapur Auto Riskshaw Owners’ Union, Dimapur Truck Drivers’ Union, Dimapur Truck Owners’ Associations and The Motor Workers Association, Dimapur were disallowed to collect cash on highways. All these unions/associations are registered with the Govt. of Nagaland under the Trade Union Act and Registration of Societies Act and their area of operation is within Dimapur mostly lying on national/state highways such as New Field Check Gate, Golaghat Road, Burma Camp, Dillai Gate, Old Khatkati Road, etc. However, the Petroleum & Land Transport Workers Federation of India having a Pay-Counter at Jakhama village above Loyola Higher Secondary School, Jakhama lying on NH – 29 is collecting cash till date. There are few Manipuri Truck Owner’s Pay-Counters lying on NH-29 in Southern Angami area maintained by the local people. Nagaland is a state mushrooming with illegal collections of cash by unions/associations/federations/police/public organisations/groups/government agencies at the check gates and on highways which contribute to price-rise in the state and Dimapur, the so called commercial hub of the state is considered to be the most affected place. Many trucks coming from outside refused to enter Nagaland because of the forcible collection of ‘taxes’ at various-gates lying on national/state highways. And in this regard the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation(NVCO) has also submitted representation to the State Government including almost all the Deputy Commissioners in the district to implement and effectively enforced the Judgement & Order dated 03.06.2014 passed by the Hon’ble Gauhati Court so as to completely remove the illegal collection of cash or taking of cash at the check-gates and on highways by Nagaland Police, unions, associations, federations, public organization, government departments, several groups, etc throughout the state.

Press & Media Cell, NVCO