For this few days there has been much hue and cry made by none other than a person by the name T.L. Angami about his unhappiness over “separation of Judiciary from Executive” which if not replied will be caught unsuspectingly gullible by surprise.
At the outset, I as one of the member of the Bar, fully understand that by writing this article with special reference to our Rural Police friend T.L. Angami founder of GBs. Federation is not going to cost me any thing nor gaining anything, rather it may probably be like telling a never ending fairy tale to a child till the child himself realize.
To make the story short, on 4th April 2006 (Morung Express), whether by Printing mistake or intentional T.L. refers GBs as a village chiefs federation, it is unclear, whether GBs as we usually known is the short form of Goanboras (a foreign language), if it is so, Goanboras and village chiefs are different from each others under the Rules for the administration and police in the Naga Hill District Act, 1937.
He, Mr. T.L. writes, If separation of Judiciary is effected whether or not all the Advocates shall appear for their clients without fees; is totally absurd and nothing to do with separation of Judiciary, the Advocates are going to take their normal fees whether judiciary is separated or not. On the other hand, he writes ‘Nagas are God fearing people; but it is not true laws are made for those who don’t fear God and some GBs are even collecting taxes, swearing in the name of God, filled with hatred and jealousy, greed, glutton and very lazy. Another significant point in his writing is that, he says, he even advised the Governor not to take hasty decision in separation of judiciary. In a state, Governor is just a nominal head and cannot be advised by anybody except the President of India.
Again on 17th April 2006 (Nagaland Post), another article has been published by T.L. Angami where he praises the traditional type of learning (school) “Morung” customary practices, oath, fear of God and at the same time express his unhappiness over SMS opinion poll recently conducted by Morung Express daily and even consider separation as alien culture is nothing more than an expression of venting his frustration and more. As far as Democracy and individual liberty is concerned T.L. is free to do what he choose, therefore instead of putting only in written form he may go to his native areas and put things into practice by establishing a Morung and teach what he believe, in that case, all the modern established courts must go and the GBs must take the center stage and let customary practice prevail, to show that they are more efficient and cheaper in dispensing justice than the type of modern courts that are existing all over the world, they may even convince the people to take oath and let their swearing be the final decision, and on top of that, they may even bring some theologians to teach the fear of God so that the issue of separation of judiciary is no more necessary and the reins of the Government will be taken over by the GBs through their decisions.
To conclude my reply, I am of the view that, if the experience of humankind through out history is not enough for T.L. Angami and his GBs federation, let the history repeat itself and let them remember that the old maxim still holds true that says; “little knowledge is dangerous”.
Kuknalim
V Nyekha, Advocate,
Kohima, Nagaland
