GB vs DNSU: Legal Authority and Customary Law in Naga Governance

The GB Federation is a traditional structure of responsible people, responsible to the community. GBs are not government servants but are appointed by the government as acknowledgment of their status as senior men placed responsible for the community. They are not paid salaried government servants; instead, the government depends on them for health and administration. The only thing they receive is a red blanket, which is not given consistently. When the Naga National Movement began in the 1950s, undergrounds would go to GBs' houses for assistance, and GBs would get beaten by both the Indian Army and Naga national workers. They have been the punching bag of everybody throughout the movement.

The Nagaland Gaon Burah Federation's 30th general conference at Phek town highlighted the critical importance of resolving the Naga political issue to enable economic development, with Minister Neiba Kronu emphasizing that while Nagas should not forego sovereignty or constitution, they must accept what is possible and continue the democratic process, as the 25-year negotiation period requires decisive action to move forward with the state's economy and development.

The GB Federation represents a traditional leadership structure in Nagaland, consisting of 17 tribes' civil society organizations. The GBs (village heads) were originally appointed by the British for administrative purposes but have evolved into traditional social structures bearing responsibility to their communities. When the Naga National Movement began in the 1950s, the GBs facilitated the 'undergrounds' by providing food, labor, and assistance, despite facing punishment from both the Indian Army and Naga national workers. The GBs are not paid salaried government servants; rather, the government depends on them for administrative assistance. The GB Federation has been endorsed by many EPICS as the only forum that can bring together all 17 tribes, and their platform is being used to organize a common platform meeting for November 18, 2025.

Customary leadership structures have historical legitimacy. The speaker explains that the GBs (village elders) have been a consistent part of the traditional setup of the people since the beginning when villages were independent entities. The British acknowledged the leadership qualities and identified them as gamuras or village elders based on this social structure. The GBs assist administration because the administration needs them, not because they need the administration. They represent the community and administer day-to-day affairs along with the council.

The GB (Gambura) system in Naga society involves a distinction between traditional hereditary GBs and government-appointed GBs. The video explains that the term 'Gambura' was coined by the British, but the council of elders has been a consistent part of the traditional setup of Naga people since villages were independent entities. The British acknowledged the leadership qualities of traditional GBs and identified them as village elders. Government-appointed GBs receive red blankets as symbols of their position, but they are not government servants and do not receive salaries. The GBs assist administration because the administration needs them, not vice versa. The traditional governance structure of Naga villages has existed since before the British arrived, with each village functioning as an independent republic. Every village had its own council of elders who governed the system, and the GBs represent this traditional leadership structure.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 is a controversial law that grants Indian armed forces extensive powers to arrest, search, and shoot to kill in Naga inhabited areas, which the Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU) strongly opposes, arguing it was passed with the intention to crush Naga political aspirations and has resulted in widespread human rights violations including killings, torture, and disappearances of innocent Naga people.

The student union calls upon the Minister of Education to respect the unique identity of the Nagas and appeals to all CBSC-affiliated schools to refrain from compulsory Sanskrit imposition. They state they will pursue democratic means including writing to the Governor, Chief Minister, and concerned ministers. The student union requests that MPs impress upon the Union Minister to ensure the unique identity of the Nagas is respected and no imposition of another second language is piled up against their students. They acknowledge they are not the right authority but serve as a pressure group for development and tribal affairs, using their position to advocate for student and community interests.

This video lists numerous student union organizations from Northeast India, including tribal and ethnic student unions such as Sonowal Kosari Student Union, Dimasa Student Union, Karbi Student Union, Garo Student Union, Singpho Student Union, Bormon Kosari Student Union, Khamti Student Union, Mentai Speaking Student Union, and Tangsa Student Union. The video also mentions the United Bodo People Organization and the Tirap Tribal Autonomous District Demand Committee. These organizations represent the diverse ethnic and tribal communities of Northeast India, reflecting the region's cultural diversity and the importance of student representation in preserving and promoting tribal identity and rights.

The Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) organized a protest to seal a sub-centre at Midland Dimapur after the Health and Family Welfare Department illegally occupied the premises despite prior ultimatums, demonstrating how student organizations can advocate for educational spaces and institutional rights through organized protest and dialogue with authorities.

The Dimapur Naga Student Union (DNSU) advocates for the principle that only indigenous Naga people should contest municipal elections in Dimapur, arguing that outsiders should not govern or make policies for Naga communities. DNSU cites Article 29 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees people with distinct language, script, and culture the right to preserve it, and Article 371, which provides special provisions for Nagaland regarding religious, social practices, and customary law. The organization has received complaints about non-indigenous candidates contesting elections and appeals to voters to elect candidates who will represent their wards. DNSU also addresses student welfare issues including uniform policies, hostel accommodations, and drug prevention, while working with authorities to improve student conditions.

RTI (Right to Information) is the fundamental right of citizens to access information from government organizations, connected to Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech. The Freedom of Information Act 2002 was replaced by RTI Act 2005 due to limitations including lack of mandatory response time and no Information Commissioner. The Act was passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, receiving Presidential assent on June 15, 2005, and signed into force by President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on October 25, 2005. RTI applies to all citizens of India, including after Jammu and Kashmir's reorganization in 2019. Information includes records, documents, contracts, and electronic forms. Public Authority encompasses government establishments, institutions established by law, and non-government institutions receiving government funding. Citizens have the right to access information in any form including inspection, copies, and electronic media. PIOs must respond within 30 days, or 48 hours for life-related information. Certain information is exempt: national security, trade secrets, intellectual property, and information endangering physical safety. The 2019 Amendment changed Information Commissioner salaries to be subject to government decision rather than fixed at Chief Election Commissioner level.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 is a fundamental right that empowers citizens to access government information. It was introduced after the Supreme Court case Rajnaraayan versus State of Uttar Pradesh (1976). The Act allows citizens to file RTI applications to seek information from public authorities. However, there are currently over 2 lakh pending RTI applications across India, with states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha having the highest pending cases.

The RTI Act 2005 empowers citizens to access government information and hold authorities accountable, as demonstrated by a young girl who successfully used RTI to address unauthorized meat shops in her neighborhood by submitting a formal application with specific questions about licensing, tenders, and applications, which resulted in the shops being removed within 30 days.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act allows citizens to access government information. A 61-year-old man filed an RTI application to inquire about the security provided to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, including the cost and basis of such security. The police initially refused to provide information citing security reasons, but the court intervened and issued notices to the government and police.

The Right to Information Act 2005 is the most important law in the legal series, with the highest number of questions asked and highest weightage. It is relatively larger in length and depth compared to other laws, requiring more time to complete. The course covers all aspects of this act comprehensively. The RTI Act was passed in 2005 and came into force on October 12, 2005, after 120 days.