Nagaland, a remote Indian state in the north east, is a case history of prolonged insurgency, anti-India feelings, regionalism at its peak and deliberate, unchecked mal-governance. Kashmir’s distant cousin from the northeast of India, where the rich and powerful politicians, bureaucrats and contractors have grabbed the space, exploited the resources and fuelled anti-India emotions for their vested interests. Indulging in double-speak with Delhi and garnering funds which are siphoned off for personal use. Journeys down Kohima, Dimapur and other towns bear testimony to how the ordinary masses, who could have been a contributing part of the mainstream, have been systematically impoverished and excluded from the benefits offered by the Government of India.
Three recent instances which have evoked feelings of hatred towards the State government and loss of respect for the Constitution of India and its institutions must be reviewed.
First was the appointment of the Lokayukta in Nagaland – only when the Honorable Supreme Court put its foot down, did the State Government of Nagaland appoint one – a testimony to the fact that it wasn’t interested in oversight which even remotely smelt of neutral or external. However, once appointed, the executive State machinery made sure that the incumbent was hounded and chased out- making frivolous allegations and then filing an application in the Supreme Court, virtually forcing the incumbent Justice UmaNath Singh to step down. This evoked despair and contempt from the masses for the State Government. If this wasn’t enough, the executive and legislature continued with an ad-hoc arrangement, amended the law to water it down and stifled all attempts at oversight.
Second, the State has not seen any woman elected as an MLA or representative since its inception. The Constitutionally mandated elections for the Urban Local Bodies saw an orchestrated surge in violence in 2017 when these were last announced. Since then, despite attempts by the Supreme Court to pull up the State Government, the elections have not been held. Repeated deadlines set by the Apex Court have been evaded, inviting scorn from the public as well as astonishment as to how the rulings and judgements of Apex Court seems to have been so easily evaded. The bureaucracy and executive seem to find myriad ways to circumvent the Apex Court and the law of the land.
Third, the recent hearing on the Supreme Court, wherein the Court severely reprimanded the State Government over the manner in which it has blatantly and contemptuously violated all laid down procedures and guidelines to continue with a DGP of its choice. Social media and independent Civil Societies, which are the real indication of the mood of the people, have made the State Government and the incumbent DGP, objects of scorn and derision. I have publicly accused the Chief Minister of Nagaland as a “liar” on a national TV channel and dubbed the present DGP a “ Teak Chor” (a teak wood thief) on social media platforms. The silence of both accused seems to imply their acceptance of the accusations and both appelations have been wholeheartedly welcomed by the masses. The Supreme Court has, once again, come to the rescue of the people of Nagaland by directing the State to follow the mandated procedure which is being flagrantly disregarded.
But once again, the State Government is playing footloose and fancy free with the Apex Court’s ruling. Despite the fact the the Supreme Court has directed the State Government to submit the list of eligible IPS Officers of the Nagaland Cadre to the UPSC, by October 31st.(31/10/22) the State Government has blatantly refused to do so to date, i.e. 2/11/22
The silent masses of the people of Nagaland are waiting and watching to see what action the Supreme Court will take against this latest spit on its face, which the Government of Nagaland has delivered.
What the Supreme Court must understand is that the people of Nagaland have lost all trust in the Constitution of India and the agencies that function under it; and that the Apex Court is the last bastion defending the credibility of the laws and institutions of India, in the eyes of the common Naga people.