GUWAHATI, Nov 15 ? North-east?s uncodified customary laws and practices are a unique system of justice administration for the indigenous people of the region to resolve disputes, reports PTI. ?The customary laws of the North-east vary from place to place, village to village, tribe to tribe and also within the same tribe in different places. The laws are not codified and are thus not uniform but are a fascinating study of a unique judicial system?, says Dr Jeuti Barooah, Director of Law Research Institute, Eastern Region, Gauhati High Court.

Since ancient times, the village councils disposed of...

NEW DELHI, Nov 15 ? The outlawed ULFA is willing to sit for dialogue with the Government of India unconditionally but wants sovereignty as the core issue of the discussion. This was conveyed by Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami to Prime Minister?s security adviser, MK Narayanan. The preliminary meeting with the Prime Minister?s Office (PMO) official was described as cordial and Dr Goswami was assured of an appointment with the Prime Minister in a day or two.

The over-one-hour-long meeting between the Prime Minister?s security pointsman and Dr Goswami ended with preliminary discussion on the preparation...

GUWAHATI, Nov 14 ?The Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development (OKD Institute) has proposed to hold a four-day international seminar on the role played by the North-east region of India in the greater cooperation between South and Southeast Asia from November 16 in the city.

Disclosing this at a press conference here today, Director of the OKD Institute Prof ANS Ahmed said that the seminar was organised in collaboration with the Japan Foundation, New Delhi and the ICSSR, New Delhi. While planning the seminar, Ahmed said that they had something academic in their mind.

Referri...

IMPHAL, Nov 13 ? Under the directive of the Centre, the Manipur Government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is applying two-pronged strategies in dealing with insurgents. In the carrot and stick policy, over 25 rebels of various outfits eschewed the path of violence and joined the national mainstream to start a new life after surrendering to the Chief Minister.

Around 200 ultras were killed, 1704 cadres of several outfits were arrested along with 247 sophisticated weapons during the period between March 7, 2002 and first week of November. The strategy is being applied with increasing...

IMPHAL, Nov 13 ? Chief Minister Okram Ibobi?s plan for development of his district in a phased manner is in a fix due to intervention by the Gauhati High Court. The Chief Minister who was elected from Khangabok Assembly constituency in Thoubal district said that Thoubal Bazaar would be developed very soon with funds from the Union Ministry of Urban Development. A proposal for development of Thoubal Bazaar at a cost of around Rs 45 crore has been sent agreed by the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

However, the Gauhati High Court?s Imphal Bench, in its interim order on November 9 has...