Kohima: The Kohima Bar Association wants the government to step in. They are fighting back against land fees charged by Village Councils across the state. KBA vice president Alezo Kire and secretary Lhusisato Iralu sent a formal demand to the chief secretary on October 15. The core issue involves councils issuing land pattas and demanding money for transfers, renewals, and other related services.
Kire and Iralu cited the Nagaland Village and Tribal Councils Act, 1978 to make their point. They pointed to Section 15(1)(g) of the law. This section allows councils to consent to property transfers and keep records. It does not grant them power to create land titles, force document renewals, or collect arbitrary fees. The association argues that using the term patta for these documents has no legal standing. It stated that "patta" ordinarily referred to a grant, lease, settlement, allotment or recognition issued by an authority possessing proprietary authority over land.
The KBA worries these practices will soon become normal if left unchecked. They recognize the financial struggles councils face but argue that funding should come from official government grants rather than illegal levies on residents. The lawyers asked the state to issue a clear notification ending these charges. They want the government to ensure uniformity and legality in land administration. If fees for record-keeping are required, the KBA suggested the state draft new rules to keep them reasonable and consistent.
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