The Naga Hills-Tuensang Area Act, 1957

Summary of the Naga Hills-Tuensang Area Act, 1957

Key Provisions:
1. Administration of Naga Hills-Tuensang Area
o The Act provided for the administration of the Naga Hills-Tuensang Area as a separate administrative unit under the control of the Central Government.
o Special arrangements were made considering the unique conditions of the region.
2. Appointment of Administrator
o The Act provided for the appointment of an Administrator responsible for the administration of the area.
o The Administrator exercised powers and performed functions as prescribed under the Act.
3. Advisory Council
o The Act provided for the establishment of an Advisory Council to assist the Administrator.
o The Council advised on matters relating to the administration and development of the area.
4. Extension and Application of Laws
o The Act empowered the Central Government to extend laws to the Naga Hills-Tuensang Area with necessary modifications.
o It allowed adaptation of laws to suit local conditions.
5. Special Administrative Provisions
o The Act provided flexibility in governance, including special arrangements relating to:
 Local administration.
 Development activities.
 Application of laws and regulations.
6. Transition to Statehood
o The Act formed part of the constitutional and administrative process that eventually led to the creation of the State of Nagaland under the State of Nagaland Act, 1962.
o Nagaland became a full-fledged State of India on 1 December 1963.

Legislative History: The Naga Hills-Tuensang Area Act, 1957

Legislative Stage /Attribute-Official Details

Act Title-The Naga Hills-Tuensang Area Act, 1957

Act Number/Year-42 of 1957

Act ID (India Code)-195742

Presidential Assent date-November 29, 1957

Enforcement Date-December 1, 1957

Nodal Ministry-Ministry of Home Affairs

Precedent & Historical Rationale

1. Naga People's Convention (NPC) Kohima Resolution (1957): Following severe insurgency and political turbulence in the Naga territory, the first Naga People's Convention met at Kohima in August 1957 and requested the Central Government to merge the Naga Hills District of Assam with the Tuensang Frontier Division of NEFA into a single administrative unit directly under the Ministry of External Affairs.

2. Formation of the NHTA Administrative Unit: Enacted to amend the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and create a new administrative unit called the Naga Hills-Tuensang Area (NHTA) within Assam, administered by the Governor of Assam as the agent of the President. (Note: This unit formed the crucial administrative stepping stone that eventually led to the creation of the full-fledged State of Nagaland in 1963).

Parliamentary Trajectory & Enactment

● Formulation: Introduced by the Central Government to fulfill peacemaking commitments made to the Naga People's Convention.

● Parliamentary passage: Debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament (Second Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) in November 1957.

● Presidential Assent: Received Presidential Assent on November 29, 1957.

● Enforcement: Brought into force on December 1, 1957.

Source: Official Record of Parliament, India Code, and Ministry of Home Affairs