Kohima: The Principal Bench of Gauhati High Court has dismissed two writ petitions filed by the Naga United of Inavi village on Wednesday.
The court directed the two villages to voluntarily vacate the area occupied by them inside Intangki National Park and hand it over to the state government within December 31, 2011.
According to official sources here, a two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice AK Goswami, directed the two villages to peacefully hand over the land to the state government within the above mentioned period failing which they shall pay a penalty of Rs five lakh per hectare per month to the state government.
The judges also ruled that the appellants were not entitled to benefit of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 as the act was applicable to Nagaland.
The court observed that late Inavi and his followers were allowed to settle at Hazadisa, outside the Intangki National Park and therefore, no permission was granted to Inavi and his followers to ‘settle down within Intangki National Park’.
The court also observed that the government had not recognized Inavi village under the provisions of the Nagaland Village Council Act while also noting that there were as many as 27 evictions on Inavi for encroachment into the Intangki National Park.
The court further observed that the government contended that Beisumpuikam, was the original owner of the land covering Intangki National Park till it was donated to the Governor-in-Council in 1923 for declaration as a Reserved Forest. While dismissing the writ appeals the court disposed off all pending miscellaneous cases and also directed there would be no order as to costs. It may be recalled that the issue between Naga United/Inavi villages had led to conflict with Beisumpuikam village, leading to loss of lives and injuries to several others. Hearing on the case was taken up at the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court and the final hearing and judgment transferred to the Principal Bench of the court. (UNI)
