Nagaland: HC reserves judgment on Yaongyimsen ‘excommunication’ case

Morung Express NewsDimapur | October 13The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, has reserved its judgment in a case challenging the excommunication of 38 individuals and their families from Yaongyimsen village in Mokokchung district.In an order dated October 13, Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer recorded that the hearing had concluded and reserved judgment in the matter.The petitioners had approached the court challenging decisions of the Yaongyimsen Riongsanger Putu Menden (Village Council) and the Yaongyimsen Senso Mundang, which allegedly excommunicated them and their families from village citizenship.According to the case background recorded in an earlier court order dated May 29, 2025, the petitioners, originally from Yaongyimsen but residing in Chümoukedima, had formed an association in 1989 with villagers living there. However, a dispute arose when the Putu Menden and Senso Mundang asked petitioners to declare their formation and establishment in the year 2021, it added. Subsequently, the village bodies issued three orders dated April 4, October 21 and December 10, 2024, excommunicating the 38 petitioners and their families from village citizenship.The petitioners challenged these orders before the High Court, contending that the excommunication had caused them difficulties, including prohibiting them from entering the village, and violated their fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.In its May 2025 order, the High Court, in an interim, had stayed the three excommunication orders.On October 13, counsel for the petitioners, the village bodies and the State respondents were heard before the court reserved its judgment.