DIMAPUR, July 22 � The Nagaland Government has rejected the plea of various Dimapur organisations seeking exemption from the purview of the ban on collections of any form.
Informing this in a notification, Chief Secretary Lalthara said, following the Home department order of May 31, prohibiting collection of any form of tax, cash, fees or donations by organisations, associations, societies or unions on the State and National Highways, or market places, representations had been received from certain organisations seeking exemption.
These organisations include Dimapur Municipal Council; Petroleum & Land Transport Workers� Federation of India; Truck Owners Association; Dimapur Motor Worker�s Trade Union; Dimapur District Auto Rickshaw Drivers� Union; Dimapur Land Transport Workers� Union; Motor Workers Association and Nagaland Oil Tanker and Vehicular Association.
However, the Chief Secretary said none of the eight representations against the Government order had been found to have a valid ground to assail the legal validity of the order, or to justify modification of the order, or to exempt any particular organisation from the purview of the said order. While stating that most of the organisations had indicated to the effect that the order had infringed on their right to form associations/unions/societies, etc, the fresh order said a careful study of the original order would reveal that such allegations are far from true.
Pointing out that the order had not, in any manner, infringed on anyone�s right to form associations/unions/societies, the govt underlined that it had simply prohibited use of National Highways or State highways, or market areas for setting up of offices or camps for collection of any form of taxes, fees or donations by any organisation.
It was made clear that 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 check gates on the highways to collect their membership fees, or donations etc.
The Chief Secretary said all the eight representations seeking exemption from the May 31 order had been disposed off and rejected.
He said the necessity for issuing the order had arisen from the fact that many organisations, associations, unions or societies are in the habit of collecting money at Government check posts. The practice was badly hampering the free flow of traffic on the highways. It also adversely affected free trade and business in the State, leading to increase in the cost of goods and services, which in turn, adversely affected the living standard of the common people, it said.
