Kohima: The Supreme Court rejected an appeal involving a long-running land battle in Dimapur. On September 15, Justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Alok Aradhe dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by Thilixu B village. They refused to challenge a previous Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench ruling. The court stated it was “not inclined to interfere with the impugned order in exercise of our jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution of India.”
While the court maintained the land judgment, it tossed out the Rs 11,000 cost penalty previously slapped on the village. This legal fight stems from a 2016 lawsuit where the village sought ownership and possession of land against state authorities. The District and Sessions Judge in Dimapur initially dismissed the suit.
Justice Devashis Baruah later upheld that decision on March 24, 2026. He ruled the claimed land sits inside the Rangapahar Reserved Forest. Historical records show this forest was established through 1916 and 1924 notifications, later expanding to include a 470-hectare wildlife sanctuary in 1986. The court found no proof that the village land sat outside these boundaries.
The legal dispute also addressed the village's official status. In 2019, the court questioned if Thilixu B followed Nagaland customary laws. A 2025 trial court finding confirmed the village failed to meet basic recognition norms. Per a 1996 government memo, a village needs 50 houses and 250 residents for official standing. Thilixu B only possessed 29 houses, and the petitioner admitted during testimony that the government never granted them formal recognition.
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