September 13, 2017

Page 1

Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXVII No. 279

DIMAPUR, wednesday, september 13, 2017 Pages 12 ` 4.00

Theresa May wins major Brexit vote in Parliament

West Ham battle past Huddersfield 2-0

Don’t like the word acting: Nicolas Cage

international, Page 9

sports, Page 12

Infotainment, Page 10

Tainted lawmakers under scanner Centre asked to fast track trial of MLAs, MPs facing criminal cases

NEW DELHI, SEP 12 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the Central government was empowered under the Constitution to take steps for the fast tracking of the trial in criminal cases against the elected representatives in the Parliament and the state assemblies. The Centre assured the Supreme Court that appropriate proceedings would be initiated against MPs and MLAs for possessing disproportionate assets and they could also be prosecuted under Prevention of Corruption Act. Pointing to the list of the subjects falling under the Central list, the bench of Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer said that it was within the powers and jurisdiction of the Centre to enact a law for the speedy trial of lawmakers facing criminal charges. “ T h e g o ve r n m e n t of India could have come with such a law,” the bench told Attor ney General K.K.Venugopal. “You have powers, jurisdiction ... Why

Night curfew in border area

DIMAPUR, SEP 12 (NPN): Night curfew has been reinforced from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the areas of Assam side bordering Nagaland prohibiting movement of any person, group of persons and vehicles in the 5km belt in Assam side of Sivasagar district bordering Nagaland. According DIPR, the order issued by additional district magistrate, Sivasagar, Assam has however exempted security personnel and officials on duty from the purview of the prohibitory order. The prohibitory order, which came into force on July 26 would remain in force for a period of 60 days.

BJP president Amit Shah to visit Nagaland

DIMAPRU, SEP 12 (NPN): National BJP president, Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Nagaland on September 29. Shah will first visit Meghalaya on September 28 and head to Nagaland. He will also visit Assam on September 30, party sources informed.

Corrigendum

don’t you create machinery. Adjudication of disputes is a constitutional responsibility.” The court said this as Venugopal told the bench that it can’t direct the parliament but can recommend to the executive (government) to enact such a law. Initially, the Attorney General resisted the suggestion by the bench asking the Central government to take lead in the matter saying that the issue came within the domain of the states and they don’t appreciate being advised on matters falling within their jurisdiction. Referring to an earlier case before the top court relating to jail reforms, he said that a thick book of advisories was issued to the states but they questioned the Central government’s powers to direct or issue advisories. He told the court that none of the advisories issued by the Centre was carried out by the states. “It is not open to the Union of India to tell the States to do this or that except what can be done (by the Centre) under Article 257 of the Constitution,” he

told the bench which then confronted him with the entry 72 of the subjects in Central list, pertaining to elections to Parliament and state assemblies, the offices of President and Vice President and the Election Commission.” Venugopal also argued that such a plea is likely to run into rough weather as affected elected representatives would contest the move on the grounds of discrimination vis-a-vis others facing trial in criminal cases in normal course. The unimpressed bench, citing the meagre allocation of just one percent or one and half percent for the judiciary in the annual budget, said: “Each of the legislation comes with its rights and obligations. Every law creates rights and obligations ... and they are dumped on existing courts.” The court said this in the course of the hearing of a PIL by NGO Lok Prahari seeking wide range of directions including the disclosure of the sources of income of candidate contributing to increase in his assets, his wife and dependent children, existing contracts with the government or its agencies and the fast tracking of the trial of cases

DIMAPUR, SEP 12 (NPN): A day after the Dimapur District Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union (DDADU) claimed that its indefinite “total bandh” was lifted after the district administration assured to revise the autorickshaw fare, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome, on Tuesday rebuffed DDADU’s claim and stated that the bandh was called off “unconditionally.” In an official order, DC Dimapur notified DDADU that the fixation of rates was a prerogative of the state and fixed after due consideration. DC stated that rates would be revised as and when felt necessary by the authority and not at the convenience and terms of the union. Further, DC stated that the “usual practice” of the union to force its way was being viewed seriously by the district authorities. DC asserted that no union or association had the right “to cause irreparable inconvenience to public to get to its claims.” DC, therefore, has directed DDADU to strictly abide the rules and regulations issued by the competent authority from time to time. Also, DDADU has been directed to adhere to the autorickshaw fares as revised by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) vide order dated August 19, 2017.

Spl. Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEP 12 (NPN): National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has ordered a special drive to remove all illegal encroachments-- like parking of vehicles, and hoardings and advertisements from the national highways. “Various establishments like dhabas, buildings, factories, restaurants, hoardings and advertisements have come up along National Highways illegally. These establishments are safety hazards for traffic plying on National Highways as they allow illegal access and parking of vehicles on the highways. Further, unauthorized hoardings and advertisements are safety hazards as these distract drivers,” Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in a statement.

tion is slightly slow in the state but the qualities are good at least for the projects under NEC. The NEC has, however, exempted power and road projects, he said. “Exception for power was because they have to survey the flow of water and the volume of water and this takes up to three to four years,” he said adding that as far as roads is concerned, roads of longer distance may not be possible to complete within five years. Meanwhile, the NEC has appointed IIT-Guwahati as the regional labour monitor for the North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS), Muivah said, adding that they have already submitted their findings. Under the NERSDS, the NEC has submitted nearly 50 roads to the Centre with a total budget of over Rs 3500 crore, Muivah said. The proposal is accepted by the DoNER ministry and the same is under examination of the Ministry of Finance. “Once that is approved, we hope to be able to improve the roads (to be identified by the state government) for the next three years. Our focus will be interstate roads as the Ministry has advised us to take up and focus on the interstate road,” he said.

DIMAPUR, SEP 12 (NPN): Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has questioned the state government for the delay in completing the construction of the new High Court complex at Meriema, despite the foundation stone being laid in 2007 by the then Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Brijesh Kumar. NTC media cell in a press note pointed out that the foundation stone for three other High Courts in Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were also laid in the same year (2007) and the courts already established since 2013. However, in the case of Nagaland the work was still yet to be completed, it said. It further expressed shock that the amount for the construction of the High Court in Nagaland exceeded the estimated cost by Rs. 9.6 crores. As per RTI response, NTC said out of the estimated amount of Rs. 43 cores, the department of Law and Justice had drawn Rs. 41.62 crores during 2009-2014 (5 year period) and for the period from 2015 to 2017 an amount of Rs. 11.25 crores was drawn against the project. With 18 drawals from 2009 to March 2017, NTC said that the amount summed up to the tune of Rs. 52.63 crores as against the original estimate of Rs. 43 crores. NTC expressed surprise that even after incurring such a huge amount, only 35% work was achieved on the ground. Beside, the department of Law and Justice had also resorted to availing loan from HUDCO for the same project, NTC stated. The council further said it was perplexed to observe that the legal fraternity chose to remain mute over such questionable developments. NTC maintained that it had raised the issue since the state was deprived of a separate High Court, denying the rightful citizens of their benefits and facilities due to irresponsible behaviour of the people in authority. In this regard, NTC urged the state government to wake up and take a call to achieve the long awaited objective.

The ministry reminded that setting up of such illegal establishments was a punishable offence under Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 (Chapter 3 & 4). In this regard, NHAI has appealed to all such establishments to close illegal access activities at their level and apply for legal access to their establishments under the policy. In this regard, field officers have been directed to start a special drive to terminate all illegal access, remove hoardings/advertisements from the ROW of National Highways and take action against illegal parking of vehicles along the National Highways with the help of local police and district administration, including lodging of police complaint against such defaulters.

DIMAPUR, SEP 12 (NPN): The NPF press and information cell (P&IC) in a statement expressed shock and condemned the order issued by Rajya Sabha MP, K.G. Kenye (on behalf of Dr. Shürhozelie Liezutsu) on September 12, to the chief secretary, commissioner, deputy commissioner, Dimapur, Chief Electoral Officer, Commissioner of Police and NPF president Neiphiu Rio purportedly informing them about cancelling the September 20 extra ordinary General Convention of the NPF called by its president Neiphiu Rio in Dimapur. P&IC said that though it was a good effort on the part of Dr. Liezietsu and party to plead before the High Court to restrain the NPF from organizing the said General Convention, “the powerful misleading

and misinterpretation of the High Court’s Order simply amuses entire citizens.” P&IC said it was uncalled for and unfortunate that Kenye had issued an order to the government servants as though they were a party to the case. “The High Court did not issue the order to the DC Dimapur to cancel the permission which was granted for the said convention, but to maintain status quo, meaning, no party interferes in the affairs of the other party,” P&IC stated. Pointing out the concluding para of the court’s order that read as-- “In the meanwhile, status quo as on today shall be maintained by the parties”, P&IC said that the particular line itself explained the very existence of two parties/entities and the gravity of the petition, which was filed on the Au-

gust 24. Issuing such order and taking the entire Naga people with a blatant lie and misinterpreting the Court order itself would attract the long arms of the law, it said. P&IC further said that the NPF was convinced that the High Court would take cognizance of how learned K.G. Kenye could fool the common people. Therefore, NPF P&IC said it condemned such cheap and misleading order issued by Kenye and demanded that the “misinterpreted order” issued to NPF president Neiphiu Rio be withdrawn, with an apology in an orderly manner. Meanwhile, P&IC said that NPF family led by Neiphiu Rio would patiently wait for the matter to be disposed off like all their previous petitions.

2-hour shutters down Ex-MLA Yeangphong passes away CCPO demands fast tracking of murder case in Kohima peaceful

This is it! Shops in Kohima during the 2-hour shutters down on Tuesday. (NP)

Correspondent

K Y M C

SHILLONG, SEP 12 (PTI): The Centre has advised state governments in the North-east region to submit Utilisation Certificates (UC) of Central projects within one year or else the funds will stop, a top official of the North Eastern Council said Tuesday. North Eastern Council secretary Ram Muivah said, “They (state governments) must submit Utilisation Certificates within one year failing which the Ministry of Finance, our chief controller of accounts, will stop release of funds for any project of more than one and a half year.” He said, “From now on we (the NEC) will be very strict. Projects delayed by five years will automatically be closed and be treated in ‘as is where is basis’, in consultation with the respective state governments.” The NEC official also informed that no projects will be funded for over five years. “We will leave it and close it and the liability will be taken over by the state governments,” he said. Several major projects funded by the NEC are facing undue delays in all the states in the region, according to the NEC monthly report. Some of these projects were delayed by over 100 months. Reacting to delays of projects in Meghalaya, Muivah said that although the construc-

Fare issue: DC Dimapur NHAI directs removal of illegal NPF P&IC flays Kenye’s ‘misleading order’ rebuffs DDADU’s claim encroachments along NHs

Apropos the news item ‘NTC’s PIL on parl secys, advisors referred to GHC’, the case was referred by Justice S. Serto to Gauhati High Court principle bench and not as published.

“Everyone has a union. Why not form Non-Union Citizens Union?”

involving law makers facing criminal cases. The Association of Democratic Reforms too had moved the court. The court reserved its verdict after the conclusion of the hearing. The Attorney General also opposed the plea for setting up of machinery to monitor the progress into the investigation into alleged disproportionate assets of a law maker by the tax authorities consequent follow up action. At the outset of the hearing, the bench said that the investigation by the Income Tax Department into manifold increase in the assets of some elected representatives was not a question of just tax compliance but the source of richness and the propriety of the same. The bench also expressed its reservation on including CBDT, CBI and others under Section 24 of the Right to Information Act that initially exempted the intelligence and security agencies from its ambit. Saying that the information furnished by the intelligence agencies were for the administrative convenience and the larger concerns of the State, Justice Chelameswar wondered how CBDT or CBI falls in that category.

States need to submit UC within Delay in completion of one year or funds will stop: NEC HC complex irks NTC

KOHIMA, SEP 12 (NPN): All business establishments in Kohima downed their shutters for two hours (12 noon to 2 p.m.) as mark of respect to the departed soul-- Pradeep Mahato, a fish monger, who was killed on September 9 by unidentified miscreants. The shutters-down call was made by the Kohima

Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI). A KCCI member informed this Correspondent that the all business establishments in Kohima town remained shut. It was peaceful and no untoward incident took place. KCCI also expressed gratitude to the public for bearing with the inconvenience caused during the period.

DIMAPUR, SEP 12 (NPN): Former MLA, N. Yeangphong Konyak, who was first elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in 1982 from 41Tizit Assembly Constituency on Congress ticket, passed away at a private hospital in Kohima on Tuesday after prolonged illness. He was 69. He is survived by his wife and five children. Late N. Yeangphong Konyak, son of late Ngeamnyei, was born on August 24, 1948. He was educated at government high school, Mon. Prior to his entering into politics in 1982, he had served as school teacher from 1970-72; president, NNO, Tizit from 1974-78; area council member from 1979-82; executive member, District Congress (I), Mon from 1978-80 and general secretary, contractors’ union, Mon district from 1977-82.

On becoming MLA in 1982, he was appointed Minister of State for Physical Education, Sports and Youth Service, 1984-86. He was appointed as cabinet minister for PHED from November 4, 1986 to November 21, 1987; cabinet minister for physical education, sports and youth welfare in 1987. He was again appointed Minister for Forest, Ecology, Environment & Wildlife Preservation from May 15, 1990 to April 1, 1992. CM: State chief minister, TR Zeliang, has expressed grief and pain at the demise of former Minister, N Yeangpong Konyak and said that his passing away was a great loss. In a condolence mess a ge t o S m t . H e n wa u Konyak and family, the chief minister said that late N Yeangpong Konyak, a prominent Naga statesman, was a man dedicated to the

service of the Naga society. The chief minister stated that Yeangpong Konyak’s immense contribution as a fair, efficient and charismatic leader would ever be remembered. During this difficult moment of pain and grief, the chief minister extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed that the departed soul rest in eternal peace. Dr. SC Jamir: Governor of Odisha, Dr. SC Jamir, has expressed deep shock at the passing away of N Yeangpong Konyak, ex-minister and a prominent leader. In his condolence message, Dr. Jamir said late N Yeangpong Konyak, who was one of the pioneers from the Konyak community, proved to be a man of conviction and strong resolve; and fully committed to the service of the people.

DIMAPUR, SEP 12 (NPN): In connection with the murder of the taxi driver-cum owner, Swuduve Nakro, the Centre Chakhesang Public Organization (CCPO) has demanded the responsible authority to fast-track the case and deliver justice without delay. In a press release, CCPO president, Niehusa Cukhami, and vice president, Nuvecho, also demanded that the judiciary and prosecution should not grant bail at any cost to the three accused -- Toishe Aye, Daniel Yimchunger, and Avito Zhotso. In the event of grating bail to the accused, CCPO cautioned it should not be responsible for any law and order problem occurred thereafter. Appreciating the responsible authority for processing the matter for (Cont’d on p-7) granting of ex-gratia to the

wife and children of late Swuduve Nakro, CCPO urged the state government to consider it on humanitarian ground and do the needful at the earliest. Meanwhile, CCPO has extended its appreciation to the police for their prompt action leading to the arrest of the accused and recovery of the vehicle. The organisation has called upon the police to build up a very strong case so the judiciary delivered justice and give befitting punishment to the perpetrators. Centre Chakhesang Public Organization also reminded its members to have confidence on the efficiency of the police and continue to restrain from creating any situation that would hamper the process of effective and timely justice. K Y M C


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September 13, 2017 by Nagaland Post - Issuu