The Nagaland state government has issued several directives in an attempt to combat the alleged illegal collection of money from vehicles at check gates and other locations in the state with immediate effect. All police check gates, except the existing interstate check gates, shall be closed with immediate effect, the government said in an order dated May 19.
The check gates set up by other Departments, including Municipal and Town Councils, shall also be immediately closed throughout the state, except interstate check gates, which may function till May 31, 2022.
All check gates run by any organization, group or private individual for whatsoever reasons will be removed or closed forthwith.
In the event of additional inter or intra-district check gates required for unavoidable reasons by any Department, including the police department, in any part of the state, the matter shall be referred through the AHOD/HOD concerned with justifications to the Home Department for consideration, and only after getting prior government approval, the check gate will be set up by the Department concerned.
After closing the check gate at any location in compliance with this order, the concerned department will have to dismantle and completely remove any temporary structure/building standing at the location.
An inspection team is to be constituted by the Deputy Commissioner in every district comprising the ADC(Hq), Addl. SP/ Addl. DCP, District Transport Officer and the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO). The team will be responsible for ensuring that there is no check gate functional on any road in the district in violation of this order.
The Inspection Team shall also conduct comprehensive inspections of the functioning of the duly permitted check gates to satisfy themselves that no illegal collection of money is taking place. In the event of any illegal activity found, the matter shall be immediately brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner concerned who shall forthwith submit a report to the Home Department through the Commissioner Nagaland with his views.
The person in charge of any check gate shall ensure that except the government employees detailed by the Department, no other private individual is present at any point of time in and around the premises/structure being used for check gate.
The notification also said that the home Department from time to time will also be sending a team of officers from the Secretariat to inspect the check gates. The Department concerned may also regularly send their officers to inspect the check gates and submit reports to the Home Department.