Dimapur, July 20 (MExN): The Government of Nagaland has summarily rejected appeals of various local organizations in Nagaland to collect any form of money on claims of “taxes”, fees or donations. The government has issued an order on May 31 banning all collection of any form of taxes, cash, fees or donations by organizations, associations, societies or unions on the state and national highways or market places etc.
Although the order was not addressed to, or directed against any particular organization, an order received here from Chief Secretary of Nagaland Lalthara stated today, ‘representations’ against the government’s ban-order have been received. These organizations included the Dimapur Municipal Council, Dimapur, Petroleum & Land Transport Workers’ Federation of India, Dimapur Truck Owners Association, Dimapur Motor Worker’s Trade Union, Dimapur District Auto Rickshaw Driver’s Union, Dimapur Land Transport Worker’s Union, Dimapur Motor Workers Association and Nagaland Oil Tanker and Vehicular Association.
The government has examined all the eight representations, the chief secretary’s office stated. None of them have given valid grounds to assail the legal validity of the order, or to justify modification of the order, or to exempt any particular organization from the purview of the said order, the government has stated.
“Most of the organizations who had represented against the order had said something to the effect that the said order had infringed on their right to form associations/unions/societies etc. But a careful study of the said order would reveal that such allegations are far from true. The said order had not, in any manner, infringed on anyone’s right to organizations/unions/societies” the chief secretary stated.
“No association/society can claim the right to have their offices or collection centre or camps on the highway areas, or to stop vehicles on the highways, or take advantage of legally erected Government’s check gates on the highways to collect their membership fees, or donations etc.” The State government has also reminded the groups that the government’s order of May 5 had not, in any manner, infringed on the right of anyone/any society to form unions/societies, and to transact their business in their respective registered offices/establishments, the government finds no substance in their representations.
“I also find no reason justifying or necessitating the modification of the said order dated 31-05-2012, or exempting any of the above 8 entities from the operation of the said order. Accordingly, I hereby dispose off and reject all the above representations listed…” the chief secretary’s office stated.
