Dimapur, July 31 (MExN): The advocate representing United/Inavi Village has alleged that the Chief Secretary has breached protocol by writing to the Registrar General of Guwahati High Court for early disposal of the case. Advocate Hukavi Sema, who is representing Inavi village in two writ petitions which is pending in the Kohima Bench, said it is not the Chief Secretary’s prerogative to “direct” the court on sub-judice matters. He claimed that the judiciary has “succumb” to the pressure of the Nagaland government and has fixed the hearing for August 2.
The Chief Secretary had on July 6th written to the Registrar General of the Guwahati High Court , seeking his intervention for early disposal of the writ appeal No. 25 (K) 2010: United/Inavi Village vs. State of Nagaland, and No. 30 (K) 2010: Inavi Village vs. the State of Nagaland. The move was made following the June 30 incident where a group of armed miscreants, who subsequently claimed to be Zeliangrong Volunteers for Forest and Environment Protection, attacked the Inavi villagers within the Ntangki National Park, killing 2 and seriously injuring 2 others.
The lawyer accused the government saying: “it is already a decided case.” He further mentioned that it is the first time in the history of judiciary that a lawyer is being notified personally by the Advocate General. He explained that usually all case hearings are listed in what is known as a “cause list” a day or two before the hearing. A lawyer comes to know about their hearing date only through the list. “I was quite surprised to be notified personally. This is against protocol,” the lawyer said.
On being contacted, a member of the State Judiciary stated that “the lawyer is factually mixed up.” He said that the Chief Secretary “did not ask the court to fix the date;” he only appealed with the Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court for intervention taking into account the gravity of the situation. He said that the date was fixed by the high court and that it is the only body authorized to do so.
The Chief Secretary had on July 6th written to the Registrar General of the Guwahati High Court , seeking his intervention for early disposal of the writ appeal No. 25 (K) 2010: United/Inavi Village vs. State of Nagaland, and No. 30 (K) 2010: Inavi Village vs. the State of Nagaland. The move was made following the June 30 incident where a group of armed miscreants, who subsequently claimed to be Zeliangrong Volunteers for Forest and Environment Protection, attacked the Inavi villagers within the Ntangki National Park, killing 2 and seriously injuring 2 others.
The lawyer accused the government saying: “it is already a decided case.” He further mentioned that it is the first time in the history of judiciary that a lawyer is being notified personally by the Advocate General. He explained that usually all case hearings are listed in what is known as a “cause list” a day or two before the hearing. A lawyer comes to know about their hearing date only through the list. “I was quite surprised to be notified personally. This is against protocol,” the lawyer said.
On being contacted, a member of the State Judiciary stated that “the lawyer is factually mixed up.” He said that the Chief Secretary “did not ask the court to fix the date;” he only appealed with the Chief Justice of the Guwahati High Court for intervention taking into account the gravity of the situation. He said that the date was fixed by the high court and that it is the only body authorized to do so.
