Suspend vehicle compliance deadline until infrastructure is ready: DNSU to state govt

Dimapur, October 22 (MExN): The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has expressed serious concern over the Nagaland government’s recent notification mandating strict enforcement of vehicle fitness certificates, Pollution Under Control (PUC) compliance and registration renewals. It urged the state to suspend punitive measures until adequate infrastructure and accessible services are in place.The DNSU, in a statement issued in the public interest, said that while it acknowledged the importance of road safety, environmental protection and regulatory compliance, enforcement must be “fair, practical, and sensitive to the socio-economic and infrastructural realities of the State.”The Union clarified that it is not opposed to lawful regulations but cautioned against “imposing blanket policies designed for urban centres without considering Nagaland's unique challenges.”It said that in Nagaland, vehicles are a necessity rather than a luxury, with inadequate public transport, poor road connectivity and limited public services, citizens depend on personal vehicles, taxis and goods carriers for commuting, accessing healthcare, transporting essential goods and sending children to school. It added that poor roads, potholes, unpaved stretches and landslides accelerate vehicle damage and increase maintenance costs.The DNSU urged the government to prioritise road development, establish functional fitness and pollution-testing centres in all districts, decentralise vehicle-documentation services and simplify renewal procedures, asserting that “accessible infrastructure and services must precede strict enforcement.”Highlighting the difficulties faced by daily-wage earners, farmers, students, small traders and rural residents who depend on old or second-hand vehicles, the Union cautioned that rigid enforcement without affordable inspections, repair guidance, reasonable timelines and financial support could place further hardship on economically vulnerable families. It advocated a phased compliance mechanism allowing owners to repair, regularise or gradually upgrade their vehicles rather than being penalised without considering their financial circumstances.The DNSU also expressed concern over the possibility of roadside harassment, extortion, arbitrary fines and unnecessary vehicle detention, calling for clear enforcement guidelines, transparency and strict accountability to ensure citizens are treated fairly and any misuse of authority is dealt with firmly.The Union placed several demands before the Government of Nagaland and concerned authorities: review of the notification with a reasonable extension of the compliance period; establishment of functional fitness-testing, pollution-certification and document-verification centres in Chümoukedima, Niuland, Peren and other underserved areas; simplified renewal procedures and reduced financial burden on low-income and rural vehicle owners; public awareness campaigns before punitive action; clear instructions to enforcement agencies to prevent harassment, extortion and arbitrary fines; phased compliance with affordable inspections, repair guidance and reasonable timelines for owners of old and second-hand vehicles; and prioritisation of road development, public transport and essential infrastructure to facilitate effective compliance.While acknowledging the extension of the compliance deadline to November 11, the DNSU maintained that additional time alone is insufficient without accessible testing facilities, affordable procedures and adequate public awareness.It therefore urged the government to suspend punitive enforcement measures until the necessary infrastructure and accessible services are in place and to adopt a “humane, practical, and people-centred approach.”“Governance is not merely about enforcing laws; it is about creating conditions in which citizens can reasonably comply with them,” the DNSU said.