Additional Deputy Commissioner, Noklak M. Chaitanya Prasad, IAS in an order issued on 3rd June 2020 stated that, as per Government of Nagaland SOP order dated 1st June 2020, all the persons entering Nagaland would undergo 14 days Institutional Quarantine at designated centres and after completion would have to undergo 14 days Home Quarantine.

Whereas reports have been received by undersigned that village councils in Noklak Sub-Division and Town Sectors are reluctant and are obstructing entry of returnees who are proceeding to respective homes for Home Quarantine (after release from Institutional Quarantine Centres).

Therefore, all Villages in Noklak Sub-Division and Noklak Town Sectors have been strictly directed to ensure smooth passage to all such returnees who are proceeding for Home Quarantine at individual homes.

Further as directed by Deputy Commissioner Tuensang in Notification No.DC-Tsg/CON-247(Vol-1) 2019-20/23 dated 1st June, all the respective village councils or sectors unions or the parents of respective person, as the case may be, have been given the responsibility to pick up returnees at the time of release from Institutional Quarantine centres at Tuensang or Noklak the case may be. Therefore, all village councils shall ensure that the respective wards are picked at the time of release from Quarantine Centres by themselves or parents as the case may be.

Any violation of above order by the village councils or Town Sector union, would amount not just to violation of guidelines and SOP issued by the Government of Nagaland but also violation of Fundamental Right of Free Movement as envisaged in Article 19 of Indian constitution.

Therefore, violators would be penalized as per section 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act 2005 & Section 188 of IPC.

(K.K. Chim, IA Noklak)