Ao Naga customary laws and traditions, just as any other statuary or codified laws and procedures, can keep up with the times in as far as they are interpreted and applied in the right perspective and context. New generations and changing times cannot and will not simply cancel out the customary laws and confine it to the dustbin of history, the reason being that the foundational and fundamental basis of Naga customary law is truth and justice. Therefore, even with the changing times, our customary laws will remain relevant and in tune with the times as long as it is interpreted and applied for delivering truth and justice without deviating from its foundational base.
Naga customary laws are unwritten rules, principles, and norms that are different from codified laws or statuary laws passed by the legislature but have the effect and force of law as sanctioned by Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.
Laws by definition are norms of conduct for citizens that act as a guideline as to what is accepted in society. Laws are not about adapting to changing times but are meant for maintaining order, resolving disputes and protecting rights and liberties. And that is precisely what Naga customary law is about. Naga customary laws may not be applicable to other communities but no matter how much the times keep changing, it will remain relevant as long as it is based on its foundational and fundamental basis of truth and justice.
To cite an illustration, an alleged perpetrator of a cyberbullying crime can be tried in a customary court and punished as found befitting by the learned custodians of customary law if found guilty of the alleged crime. Here, nature of trial and punishment may be different from the codified or statuary laws but the question of delivering a just verdict is immanent.
Naga customary laws will remain in tune with the changing times unless the times abhor truth and justice. The crux of the matter here is that relevance or irrelevance of customary laws to our society, now or in the future, would depend on whether we are willing to embrace and uphold truth and justice, not on the change of times and generations.