Kikheto Sema meets Union Law Minister, requests central aid for judicial infrastructure in Nagaland

Published on May 26, 2025

Y Kikheto Sema with Arjun Ram Meghwal at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi on Monday. (DIPR Photo)
DIMAPUR — In a bid to strengthen the legal infrastructure of Nagaland, Principal Secretary for Law & Justice Y Kikheto Sema met with Union Minister for Law & Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal in New Delhi.
An update from DIPR on Monday stated that the meeting—a continuation of commitments made by the Union Minister during previous visits to Nagaland—focused on increasing the state’s quota of Notary Publics and securing central funding for major judicial construction projects.
Sema requested the Centre to double Nagaland’s Notary Public quota, reasoning that the current allocation of 200, established in 1963, no longer reflects the state’s current needs.
With 20 districts and a population of over 22 lakh, the demand for notarial services has drastically increased, he said.
The union minister assured Sema that the proposal would be considered and that amendments to the Notaries Rules, 1956, could be expected within the next two months.

Another topic of discussion was the long-pending High Court building project in Nagaland, during which Sema shared that the state, despite investing INR 242 crore already, requires an additional INR 299 crore in central funding to complete the project.
“The union minister informed that the matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Finance and expressed hope for its consideration in the current financial year,” it stated.
Further requests made by Sema included central funding support for new district courts in Nuiland, Tseminyu, and Shamator, as well as the early release of funds for ongoing construction at district courts in Mon and Noklak.
“Union Minister Meghwal, along with Joint Secretary (Justice) Gaurav Masaldan, assured that these requests would be considered, subject to the completion of requisite procedures and compliance with the SNA-SPARSH system, which has been recently introduced by the government of India for the release of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) funds,” it added.