Kohima Bar Association seeks Nagaland government intervention over village council land fees

The Kohima Bar Association (KBA) has requested the Nagaland government to intervene regarding the issuance of land pattas and the collection of land-related fees by various village councils. In a representation to the Chief Secretary, the KBA argued that these practices exceed the authority granted to village councils under the Nagaland Village and Tribal Councils Act, 1978.

The association contends that while Section 15(1)(g) of the Act allows village councils to accord consent and maintain written records for the transfer of immovable property, it does not empower them to create proprietary rights, establish a land-documentation system, or mandate compulsory renewals of ownership documents. The KBA expressed concern that without regulation, these unauthorized levies and the use of the term ‘patta’ could become institutionalized across the state without legislative sanction.

To address the issue, the KBA has proposed that the government declare the legality of these charges, discontinue unauthorized collections, and frame uniform rules to prescribe reasonable fees for statutory services if necessary. The association suggested that government grants would be a more appropriate way to support village councils' financial needs than imposing unlegislated charges on citizens.