On May 21, 2025, the Gauhati High Court at Kohima granted the Nagaland Government a six-week deadline to establish Customary Courts and Subordinate District Customary Courts, as mandated by the Rules for Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland (Fifth Amendment) Act, 2025.

The court’s directive followed a revision petition challenging a Dimapur District Court order that dismissed an appeal, stating it lacked jurisdiction over decisions made by village authorities under the customary law framework. The High Court recognized the need to address jurisdictional ambiguities between customary and formal courts in Nagaland and emphasized the necessity of implementing the new legal provisions for clarity and consistency.

This development underscores the state’s commitment to formalizing the customary justice system, which has long operated alongside formal courts, to ensure legal clarity and uphold traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.

Sources