Dimapur, November 15 (MExN): The Search/Selection Commission of the Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) has said that the process of electing the new team of office bearers was “well within the established constitution governing the Naga Council Dimapur, and their actions, if any, cannot be termed as arbitrary, ultra-vires or illegal.”
In a press release on Sunday, the Commission referred to a statement issued by the petitioners on November 13, as “nothing but an after-thought, concocted and with mala-fide intention of misleading the people.”
Presenting its account of the events that led to the election of the new team on August 22, it said that the tenure of the previous NCD office bearers had expired on March 31. However, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown that was imposed in Dimapur, they continued their respective assigned duties. Consequently, as a prevalent practice, a search/selection Commission was set up on July 4, it added.
It maintained that “no illegality can be attributed to the stop-gap arrangement that was in place during the lockdown in Dimapur,” while adding that the Commission could not call for a general meeting for the said purpose because of the lockdown and the ban on gathering/meetings.
“It may further be noted that the then President and the General Secretary had written to the then Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, but permission was not granted with the following observation, ‘I am directed to regretfully convey that permission for holding meetings cannot be granted since the Government has banned large gatherings due to the outbreak of COVID-19 vide order No. GAB-1/COM/GEN-1/2020 dated Kohima the March 16, 2020,’” the statement read.
Further, the Commission stated that it was ‘taken aback’ when the court was approached and an interim order was obtained, whereby, the election/selection/nomination had been stayed. However, after the Court vacated the Interim Order on August 13, the Commission convened a general meeting on August 22 and appointed the new team of office bearers for the 2020-2025 tenure in presence of the Councilors as well as presidents and officials of different tribal hohos, it said.
The needed criteria as enshrined in the Council’s Constitution have been strictly and transparently adhered to; and members of the Search/Selection Commission affirmed the solemn commitment to ensure selection/nomination of councilors/personnel with adequate experience and proven track records, it added.
