THE NINE-POINT AGREEMENT
THE NINE-POINT AGREEMENT (THE HYDARI AGREEMENT) ARRIVED AT BETWEEN THE NAGA NATIONAL COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNOR IN JUNE 1947
The right of the Nagas to develop themselves according to their freely expressed is recognized:
Judicial
All cases whether civil or criminal arising between the Nagas in the Naga Hills will be disposed for by duly constituted Naga courts according to Naga customary law, or such law as may be introduced with the consent of duly recognized Naga representative organizations, save that where a sentence of transportation or death has been passed there will be right of appeal to the Governor.
In cases arising between Nagas and non-Nagas in (a) Kohima and Mokokchung areas, and (b) in the neighboring plains districts, the judge if not a Naga, will be assisted by the Naga assessor.
Executive
The general principle is accepted that what the Naga National Council is prepared to pay for the Naga National Council should control. This principle will be applied to the work done as well as the staff employed.
While the district officer will be appointed at the discretion of the Governor, sub-division of the Naga Hills should be administered by a sub-divisional council with a full time executive president, paid by the Naga National Council, who would be responsible to the district officer, for all matters falling within the latter's responsibility, and the Naga National Council for all matters falling within their responsibility.
In regard to:
Agriculture – The Naga National Council will exercise all the powers now vested in the district officer. PWD – The Naga National Council will take over full control. Education and Forest Department – The Naga National Council is prepared to pay for all the services and staff.
Legislative
That no laws passed by the Provincial or Central Legislature which would materially affect the terms of this agreement or the religious practices of the Nagas shall have legal force in the Naga Hills without the consent of the Naga National Council.
In cases of dispute as to whether any law did so affect this agreement, the matter would be referred by the Naga National Council to the Governor who would then direct that the law in question should not have legal force in the Naga Hills pending the decision of the Central Government.
Land
That land with all its resources in the Naga Hills should not be alienated to a non-Naga without the consent of the Naga National Council.
Taxation
That the Naga National Council will be responsible for the imposition, collection and expenditure of land revenue and house tax, and of such other taxes as may be imposed by the Naga National Council.
Boundaries
The present administrative divisions should be modified so as to (1) bring back into the Naga Hills District all the forests transferred to the Sibsagar and Nowgong Districts in the past, and (2) bring under one unified administrative unit, so as far as possible, all Nagas. All the areas so included would be within the scope of the present proposed agreement.
No areas should be transferred out of the Naga Hills without the consent of the Naga National Council.
Arms Act
The district officer will act on the advice of the Naga National Council in accordance with the provisions of the Arms Act.
Regulations
The Chin Hills Regulation and the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations will remain in force.
Period of Agreement
The Governor of Assam as the agent of the Government of Indian Union will have a special responsibility for a period of ten years to ensure that due observance of this agreement; at the end of this period the Naga National Council will be asked whether they require the above agreement to be extended for a further period, or a new agreement regarding the future of the Naga people arrived at.
