Court seeks report on Molvom–Medziphema dispute, extends interim protection

DIMAPUR — The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, has directed the deputy commissioner (DC) of Chümoukedima to file an affidavit by August 26 on allegations of continued hostility against Molvom villagers by neighbouring Medziphema villagers, despite an earlier court order directing both sides to maintain peace.

The order was passed on Thursday by Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita while hearing a writ petition filed by Molvom Village Council (MVC) and its chief.

Counsel for the petitioners submitted that although the court had, on July 24, directed the state authorities to protect the lives and properties of Molvom villagers and to ensure that the names of Molvom village and Molvom Railway Station were not altered until further orders, “hostility towards the Molvom village by the villagers of the Medziphema village is still continuing.”

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It was alleged that 16 families from Molvom were forced to leave Medziphema town and that villagers were being prevented from accessing the market there. Children were also reportedly not permitted to attend schools in Medziphema.

The counsel further said that although both villages had executed a peace bond, villagers continued to patrol the boundary and blocked Molvom villagers from selling their farm produce. An FIR was lodged on August 18 before the commissioner of police, Dimapur.

Taking note of the “serious” allegations, the court directed the DC to file a report in the form of an affidavit. The government advocate was asked to ensure its submission by August 26.

Both the state respondents and the MVC were granted three weeks to file their affidavits-in-opposition. The matter has been listed again for August 26, and the court ordered that its earlier interim directions will continue until then.

Background

The case stems from a February 14 recommendation by the additional deputy commissioner of Medziphema to rename Molvom Railway Station as Medziphema Railway Station, and an April 10 notice from DC Chümoukedima regarding land acquisition for the proposed ‘Nagaki Incubation City’ project.

The MVC argues that the village, established in 1940 and recognised under the Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act, 1978, has long existed independent of Medziphema. It contends that the land acquisition process initiated in 2023 violated procedures under the Nagaland Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1965, and has asked the court to quash the notices.

On July 24, the court directed the state to protect the lives and properties of Molvom villagers and ordered that “the names of Molvom Village and the Molvom Railway Station shall not be changed till the next returnable date.”