Stand united to safeguard constitutional protections for Naga people: Zeliang

Dimapur: Nagaland deputy chief minister TR Zeliang urged the dobashis (interpreters or intermediaries) and gaon buras (village chiefs) to be aware of the constitutional protections granted to the Naga people under Article 371(A) of the Constitution and stand united in safeguarding them.
Addressing the second day of the 22nd triennial conference-cum-63rd anniversary celebration of the Nagaland Dobashi Association (NDBA) as the special guest at P. Shilu Ao Park in Mokokchung on Friday, Zeliang stressed the importance of these unique rights. He said no act of Parliament affecting Naga customary laws, ownership of land and resources can be enforced in Nagaland without the resolution passed by the state legislative assembly, an official release said on Saturday.
The event was held under the theme ‘Strengthening the Spirit of Nagaland Customary Laws and its Practices'.
Zeliang also underscored the need to strengthen the Village Council and Area Council Act 1978 to ensure the preservation of Naga customary practices and usages. He advocated for greater transparency in dobashi judgement, noting if judgements are delivered with the highest transparency and without partiality, no court will be able to challenge them.
Dobashi court is the institution of the custody of Naga customary laws and usages. The dobhasi system was introduced by the British in 1842 among the Naga tribes and as a layer of administration.
He suggested the introduction of a basic Naga customary law in a three-tier system, which could be enacted through the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to establish a unified and untouchable customary legal framework.
Highlighting the importance of dobashis in providing an accessible and culturally relevant justice system, Zeliang said dobashi courts could effectively resolve local disputes within the state, serving as an alternative to formal courts. He lauded the dobashis and gaon buras as the backbone of governance and administration in Nagaland.