The Nagaland state government is mulling the adoption of the National Highways Act, 1956, raising both hopes for improved connectivity and concerns over the constitutional safeguards enshrined in Article 371A.
A high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Monday deliberated the implications of bringing the central legislation into effect in Nagaland. The meeting saw the presence of key bureaucrats from the Works & Housing Department, Land Revenue, Law & Justice, and the Public Works Department (National Highways), along with Additional Advocate Generals and district officials.
Zeliang, who also holds the Works & Housing portfolio, opened the discussions by noting that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had made it clear: the NH Act of 1956 is applicable across all Indian states, including Nagaland.
“The adoption of the NH Act will benefit the people of Nagaland, as it includes provisions for fair compensation, including land rates and solatium, which are not currently available under the state’s Land Requisition and Acquisition Act of 1965,” Zeliang argued, indicating that the central law provides more structured mechanisms for land acquisition and rehabilitation.
But the proposal is not without complications. Article 371A of the Constitution, which provides special protections for Nagaland in matters concerning land and its ownership, casts a long shadow over any attempt to impose central laws. Several officials present at the meeting reportedly raised concerns about how the NH Act could be reconciled with these constitutional guarantees.
Nonetheless, Zeliang warned of the cost of continued hesitation. Citing the example of the Women’s Reservation Act, where Nagaland was among the last to fall in line, he said: “Prolonged resistance to adopting the NH Act could result in missed development opportunities.”
The meeting concluded with a resolution to prepare a Cabinet Memo that would lay out the legal and administrative pathway for the Act’s adoption. The Works & Housing Department, in coordination with Law & Justice and Land Revenue departments, has been tasked with drafting the proposal. Any final decision will rest with the State Cabinet and, potentially, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Commissioner & Secretary of the Works & Housing Department, Kesonyu Yhome, called on all departments to expedite consultations, cautioning that delays in adopting the Act could hamper critical infrastructure projects already underway.
(With inputs from India Today NE)