A single judge bench of justice N Kotiswar Singh of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench has set aside the orders passed by Chuchuyimlang Senso Mundang (Chuchuyimlang Citizens’ Forum) which banished and excommunicated Mangyang Lima for contesting the 2018 assembly polls from his own village for 11 years and also declared the impugned orders as void.
The petitioner went against the diktat of the village council to not contest against Nuklutoshi Longkumer (NPF)- the candidate chosen by forum as the sole candidate from the village.
The petitioner also challenged another decision of the forum and Riosanger Putu Menden on imposing fine in the form of pigs and cash from the supporters of the petitioner or face expulsion also. In its judgment and order dated January 9, 2019, the court ruled that the village court, which has the authority to decide on the basis of customary laws, did not have the power of banishment or ex-communication as the case may be.