The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has issued a contempt notice to senior Nagaland officials over non-compliance in a long-pending Zunheboto land acquisition case.
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DIMAPUR — The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has issued notice in a contempt petition against senior Nagaland government officials over alleged failure to comply with a 2025 court direction to acquire private land occupied for decades by government agencies and BSNL in Zunheboto district.
A single bench of Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer, on January 15, issued notice returnable within four weeks in a contempt case filed by Kiyeshe Zhimomi of Sheyipu village, Zunheboto, alleging wilful and deliberate violation of the High Court’s judgement dated April 17, 2025, passed in WP (C) No. 131 of 2020.
In the earlier judgement, the court had directed the state government and district authorities to complete the acquisition of Zhimomi’s land under the Nagaland (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1965 within six months from the date of receipt of the order.
The petitioner contended that despite the order being served on the authorities on April 24, 2025, no steps had been taken to initiate the acquisition process.
The contempt petition has been filed against, among others, the chief secretary, commissioner, commissioner and secretary of Land Revenue, deputy commissioner of Zunheboto, and the general manager of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL).
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Justice Longkumer directed issuance of notice to all respondents, observing that the allegations pertain to non-compliance of a binding judicial order.
Case history
The contempt proceedings originate from a long-running land dispute dating back to 1979–80, when, due to emergent circumstances and at the request of the district administration, Zhimomi reportedly constructed 28 barracks for police personnel on his private land at Old Town, Zunheboto.
Per court documents, a portion of the land was later converted into a public park and subsequently allotted to BSNL for setting up its office.
In its April 17, 2025 judgement, a single bench of Justice Budi Habung held that the state had failed to lawfully acquire the petitioner’s land despite occupying it for decades.
The court observed that no acquisition proceedings under the Nagaland (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1965 had been initiated, nor had any compensation or rent been paid to the landowner.
It also rejected the BSNL’s claim of adverse possession, holding that the state, as a welfare entity, cannot deprive a citizen of property without following due process of law. Relying on Supreme Court rulings, the High Court observed that property rights, though no longer fundamental, remain protected under Article 300A of the Constitution.
The judgement also recorded that the District Land Settlement Board, Zunheboto, in a meeting held on November 21, 2019, had recommended outright purchase of the land, but the proposal remained pending approval from the State Land Acquisition Authority.
Directing the deputy commissioner of Zunheboto, and other authorities to act, the court had ordered completion of the acquisition process and examination of the petitioner’s claim for rent and compensation within six months.