TR Zeliang with Hiazu Meru and others during the
inauguration of Kejanglwa Village Council Hall, under Peren district, on May
17.
- DIMAPUR — The
Village Council Hall of Kejanglwa village in Peren, constructed under the
Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA), was inaugurated by the Deputy Chief
Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang, on May 17 in the presence of the DC Peren,
Hiazu Meru, and other officials.
- According to a DIPR report, in his inaugural speech, TR
Zeliang said Nagaland does not follow the Panchayati Raj System, which was
passed in the Indian Parliament in 1992 and came into effect on April 24, 1993.
- However, he said Nagaland has its own village council system
established under the Nagaland Village and Area Council Act, 1978, which
created the Village Development Board (VDB). Therefore, he suggested that the
village council hall should not be called the panchayat hall.
- Under Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution, he stated
that they enjoy rights related to religious and social practices, customary law
and procedures, and the administration of civil and criminal justice.
- Stating that the Village Council Court is both the lowest
and highest court according to Zeliangrong customary practices, he said that if
any individual or group appeals to the high court or the Supreme Court against
a judgement given by the village council concerning land disputes, marriage,
divorce cases, or other social practices, they are violating the customary
system of the Zeliangrong tribe.
