Peren district headquarters shifting
EMN
Dimapur, December 7
The Zeliang People’s Organisation, Nagaland (ZPO-N) has urged Governor PB Acharya to use his high office to prevent the government of Nagaland to ‘erratically shift’ the new headquarters of Peren district to its proposed site before the ongoing judicial process is over and also before necessary infrastructure is installed to his satisfaction.
In a representation to the Governor on Sunday, ZPO (N) president Ramdi Meru and general secretary Kiesamyi Iranggaung sought to explain the actual state of affairs and the ongoing judicial process regarding the shifting of new district headquarters in Peren district.
It said the Gauhati High Court agreed against the ‘erratic decision’ of the government of Nagaland to shift the new district headquarters to its proposed site without first creating the necessary infrastructure for human habitation. “Being satisfied with our contentions the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court (Hon’ble Chief Justice Mr. A. K. Goel and Hon’ble Justice Mr. S. Talapatra) vide an Order dated 7.9.2012 passed in PIL 56/2012 had been pleased to direct the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland to ensure that before shifting of the district headquarters minimum infrastructure is available to his satisfaction and that till such infrastructure becomes available to the satisfaction of the Chief Secretary shifting of Headquarters may not be implemented,” it stated.
Alleging that the Chief Secretary submitted a report which was far away from the ground realities existing at the new proposed site, the ZPO (N) said it had to approach the Gauhati High Court again by way of filing a PIL 1(K)/2013 challenging the report of the Chief Secretary dated 30.9.2013.
“After perusal of the said report and upon hearing the Counsel for our Organisation, the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court by an Order dated 10.2.2014 was pleased to direct the Commissioner, Nagaland as well as Mr. T. Koza, an advocate of the Gauhati High Court to visit the proposed site and submit the Report,” it pointed out. The report was submitted by the said Commission on April 29 stating that even as on April 29, 2014 i.e. after one year of the Chief Secretary’s report, the necessary infrastructure like road, water, electricity, telephone and other prerequisites are yet to be satisfactorily installed.
“Having regard to the Report and the passage of time which has lapsed in between the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court in its latest hearing today, 4.12.2014 has directed again an impartial enquiry by two judicial officials viz., the District Judge of Dimapur as well as the Civil Judge of Peren to conduct an inquiry of joint inspection of the spot and submit report before the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court within 2(two) months from the date of the effective order and the matter is listed for further hearing on 09.02.2015,” it informed.
