Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 27 (EMN): Nagaland Dobashi Association (NDA) on Wednesday appealed to the state government to formally constitute customary courts in Nagaland.
Despite the presence of customary courts and district customary courts in all the districts of Nagaland, it is yet to be formally constituted by the government, the association said while addressing a press conference in Kohima on Wednesday.
In this regard, the association has submitted a memorandum to the chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, seeking "necessary action" on the matter.
The chief minister is said to have assured them in a verbal reply to "safeguard" and "protect" the unique history and identity of the Nagas. Further discussion has been suggested on ways to bring about the matter in place, it was informed.
‘It is pertinent to mention that the Special Status (Article 371A) accorded to the state may land in conflict and the essence of our customs and traditions will vanish if appropriate steps are not taken to recognise/constitute the Customary Courts in Nagaland,’ read the association’s memorandum.
Dobashi institution is the “oldest” and one of the few institutions associated with the customs and traditions of the Nagas, it claimed.
Nagaland state is governed by "the Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland 1937", and by the third amendment act 1984- Chapter IVA, which got the assent of the President of India on March 4 1987, it stated.
‘Accordingly, the state should have village courts, subordinate customary courts and district customary courts. But so far, the village courts had been only constituted through the Nagaland Village Council Acts 1978,’ it added.
The association further appealed to the CM to take up the matter as his own and "lift the standards and identity of the Nagas to greater heights".
Meanwhile, the association informed that about 300 (minimum) cases out of over 1000 (cases of entry and appeals) are settled every year in Kohima alone. It also added there are about 600 (regular) Dobashis across the state at present.
The Customary Courts and District Customary Courts are managed by Dobashis.