"Constitution of India gives the Nagas a complete self-determination for themselves, as much or as little administrative isolation from the rest of India."Discuss in the light of relevant provisions.

Model Answer:
Like many other small sovereign states before the arrival of British, the Nagas were also free people. The present Nagaland state is a result of British confiscation of the state during the early period. Since then there has been problem of Naga nationalism and Ethnic conflict in Nagaland and other north eastern states. While taking effective measures to put down the insurgency, the government decided to meet the genuine aspirations of Nagas and, therefore, carved out a separate State of Nagaland on December 1, 1963.Earlier, the parliament also passed the Constitution 13th Amendment Act, 1962 and provided special treatment to Nagaland via Article 371-A.This article says that no Act of Parliament in respect of Religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, Ownership and transfer of land and its resources shall apply to the State of Nagaland unless the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland by a resolution so decides. The above amendment in the constitution and separate Nagaland state gave the Nagas a complete self-determination for themselves, as much or as little administrative isolation from the rest of India as they wished but this did not amount to the sovereignty they demanded.

Topics: GS-II: Mechanisms Laws for Protection of Vulnerable Sections