The Nagaland Habitual offenders Act,1967

THE NAGALAND ACT 12 OF 1967 
[THE NAGALAND HABITUAL OFFENDERS ACT, 1967] 

Received the assent of the Governor of Nagaland on the  
28th November, 1967. 

(Published in the Nagaland Gazette-Extraordinary, Dated  
Kohima, the 4th December, 1967) 

 
An Act to provide fore the treatment and training of 

habitual offenders. 
 It is hereby enacted in the Eighteenth Year of the Republic off India as follows: - 
  

CHAPTER  I 
PRELIMINARY 

 
 Short title, extent and commencement. – 1. (1) This Act may be called the 
Nagaland Habitual Offenders Act, 1967. 
 (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Nagaland. 
 (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may by notification 
in the Official Gazette appoint. 
 Definition. – 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires: - 

(a) ‘corrective settlement’ means any place established, approved or certified as a 
corrective settlement under section 13; 

(b) ‘habitual offender’ means a person who during any continuous period of five 
years, whether before or after the commencement of this Act or partly after such 
commencement of this Act, has been sentenced on conviction on not less than 
three occasions since he attained the age of eighteen years to a substantive term of 
imprisonment for any one or more of the scheduled offences committed on 
different occasions and not so connected together as to form parts of the same 
transactions, such sentence not having been reversed in appeal or on revision: 

Provided that in computing the continuous period of five years referred to above any 
period spent in jail either under a sentence of imprisonment or under detention shall not be 
taken into account; 

 
(c) ‘prescribed’ means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 



(d) ‘registered offender’ means a habitual offender registered or re-registered under 
this Act; 

(e) ‘scheduled offence’ means an offence specified in the schedule or an offence 
analogous thereto. 

 
CHAPTER  II 

REGISTRATION OF HABITUAL OFFENDERS AND  
RESTRICTIOJN ON THEIR MOVEMENTS 

 Powers of State Government to direct registration of habitual offenders. – 3.  The 
State Government may direct the Deputy Commissioner to make a register of habitual 
offenders within his district by entering therein the names and other prescribed particulars of 
such offenders. 
 4. For the purpose of carrying out the direction given under section 3 the Deputy 
Commissioner or any officer appointed by him in this behalf shall, by notice in the prescribed 
form to be served in the prescribed manner, call upon every habitual offender in the district- 

(a) to appear before him at a time and place therein specified; 
9b) to furnish such information as may be necessary to enable him to enter the name 

and other prescribed particulars of habitual offender in the register; and  
(c) to allow his finger and palm impressions, footprints and photograph to be taken: 
Provided that the name and other prescribed particulars of a habitual offender shall 

not be entered in the register unless he has been afforded reasonable opportunity of showing 
cause why such entry should not be made. 

Charge of register and alteration therein. – 5. (1) The register shall be placed in the 
keeping of the Superintendent of Police who shall from time to time, report to the Deputy 
Commissioner any alterations which ought in his opinion to be made therein. 

(2) After the register has been placed in the keeping of the Superintendent of Police, 
no fresh entry shall be made in the register, nor shall any entry be cancelled, except by, or 
under any order in writing of the Deputy Commissioner. 

Power to take finger and palm impression, foot prints and photographs at any 
time. – 6. The Deputy Commissioner or any officer appointed by him in this behalf may at 
any time order the finger and palm impressions, foot prints and photographs of any registered 
offender to be taken. 



Registered offenders to notify change of residence and to report themselves. – 7. 
(1) Every registered offender shall notify to such authority and in such manner as may be 
prescribed any change or intended change of his ordinary residence: 

Provided that where such offender changes or intends to change his ordinary 
residence to another district (whether within the same State or not) he shall notify the change 
or intended change to the Deputy Commissioner. 

(2) The Deputy Commissioner may by order in writing direct that any registered 
offender shall- 

(a) report himself once in each month or where the Deputy Commissioner for reasons 
specified in the order to direct, more frequently, to such authority and in such 
manner as may be specified; 

(b) notify any absence or intended absence from his ordinary residence to the 
aforesaid authority: 

Provided that the Deputy Commissioner may exempt any such offender from 
notifying any absence or intended absence from his ordinary residence for such period and 
under such conditions as to him may appear reasonable. 

Migration of offender from one to another district. – 8. (1) Where any registered 
offender changes his ordinary residence to another district within this State, the Deputy 
Commissioner of the district in which the offender is registered shall inform the Deputy 
Commissioner of the other district about such change and at the same time furnish him with 
the name and other particulars of the registered offender. 

(2) On the receipt of such information the Deputy Commissioner of the other district 
shall enter in his register the name and other particulars of the registered offender and inform 
the Deputy Commissioner of the first district about such registration and thereupon such 
Deputy Commissioner shall cancel from his register the entry relating to the at offender: 

Provided that where a registered offender changes his ordinary residence to another 
district outside this State, Deputy Commissioner of the first district shall, while furnishing the 
District Magistrate of the other of the other district with the name and other particulars of the  
registered offender make a request to that District Magistrate that he may be informed of the 
steps, if any, which may have been taken in relation to the offender under any law for the 
time being in force in that other district and upon the receipt of such information the Deputy 
Commissioner of the first district shall cancel from his register the entry relating to that 
offender. 



(3) Upon the entry of the name and other particulars of a registered offender in the 
register under sub-section (2), the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall 
apply to him as if he has been registered, in pursuance of a direction given under section 3, in 
the register of the district to which he has changed his ordinary residence. 

Duration of registration and re-registration of habitual offenders. – 9. (1) The 
registration of a habitual offender under this Act shall, unless earlier cancelled, cease to be in 
force on the expiry of five years from the date of such registration and on such cancellation or 
expiry the habitual offender shall cease to be a registered offender. 

(2) Notwithstanding the cancellation, or expiry of duration, or registration a habitual 
offender may be re-registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act relating to 
relating to registration as often as he is convicted of one or more of the scheduled offences at 
any time after such cancellation, or expiry and the re-registration shall, unless earlier 
cancelled, cease to be in force on the expiry of five years from the date of such re-
registration. 

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) and (2) where a registered 
offender is, during the period of registration or re-registration convicted of one or more of the 
scheduled offences and sentenced to a substantive term of imprisonment, the duration of 
registration or re-registration shall be extend for a period of five years from the date of his 
release from such imprisonment. 

Right to make representation etc.- 10. (1) Any person deeming himself aggrieved 
by the registration or re-registration, of his name under section 4 or, as the case may be, under 
section 9 or by an order under sub-section (2) of section 7 may within the prescribed period 
make a representation to the State Government against such registration, re-registration or 
order. 

(2) The State Government shall, after considering the representation and giving the 
aggrieved person an opportunity of being heard, either confirm or cancel the registration, re-
registration or order, as the case may be a and shall in the case of confirmation record a brief 
statement of the reasons thereof. 

Power to restrict movements of registered offenders. – 11. (1) If, in the opinion of 
the State Government it is necessary or expedient in the interest of the general public so to 
do, the State Government may by order direct that any registered offender shall be restricted 
in his movements to such area and for such period not exceeding three years as may be 
specified in the order. 



(2) Before making any such order the State Government shall take into consideration 
the following matters, namely: - 

(a) the nature of the offences of which the registered offender has been convicted and 
the circumstances in which the offences were committed; 

(b) whether the registered offender follows any lawful occupation and whether such 
occupation is conducive to honest and settled way of life and is not merely a 
pretence for the purpose of facilitating commission of offences; 

(c) the suitability of the area to which his movements are to be restricted; and  
(d) the manner in which the registered offender may earn his living within the 

restriction area and the adequacy of arrangements which are or likely to be, 
available therefor. 

(3) A copy of the order shall be served on the registered offender in the prescribed 
manner. 

Power to cancel or alter restriction of movements. – 12. The State Government 
may, by order, cancel any order made under section 11 or alter any area specified in an order 
under that section: 

Provided that before making such order the State Government shall consider the 
matters referred to in sub-section (2) of section 11 in so far as they may be applicable. 
 

CHAPETER  III 
CORRECTIVE TRAINING OF HABITUAL OFFENDERS 

 13. (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish 
and maintain in the State as many corrective settlements as it thinks fit for the purpose of 
placing therein such habitual offenders as are directed to received corrective training under 
this Act. 
 (2) The State Government may also approve or certify any privately – managed 
institution  (whether known as settlement or otherwise) as a corrective settlement for the 
purpose of this Act. 
 Power to direct habitual offender to receive corrective training. – 14. (1) Where 
the State Government is satisfied from the report of the Deputy Commissioner or otherwise 
that it is expedient with a view to the reformation of a registered offender and the prevention 
of crime that the registered offender should receive training of a corrective character for a 
substantial time, the State Government may by order in writing direct that the registered 



offender shall receive training of a corrective character for such period not exceeding the 
duration of his registration or re-registration as may be specified in the order. 
 (2) Where a habitual offender who is not more than forty years of age. 
 (a) is convicted of any offences publishable with imprisonment, or 

(b) is required in pursuance of section 110 of the Code of the Criminal Procedure 
1898 to execute a bond for his good behavior, and the court or the Magistrate is 
satisfied from the evidence in the case and other materials or record that it is 
expedient with a view to his reformation and prevention of crime that he should 
received training of a corrective character for substantial time, the court or the 
Magistrate may, in lieu of sentencing him for such offence or, as the case may be, 
requiring him to execute such bond direct that he shall receive corrective training 
for such term or not less than two or not more than five years as the court or the 
Magistrate may determine. 

(3) Before giving any direction under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) the State 
Government or the court or the Magistrate, as the case may be, shall- 

(a) take into consideration the physical and mental condition of the offender and his 
suitability for receiving corrective training in a corrective settlement, and  

(b) give a reasonable opportunity to the offender to show cause why such direction 
should not be given. 

(4) A habitual offender in respect of whom a direction to receive corrective training 
has been made shall be placed in a corrective settlement for the term of his training and while 
in such settlement shall be treated in such manner as may be prescribed. 

Power to transfer from corrective settlement. – 15.  The State Government or any 
officer authorized by it in this behalf may at any time by order in writing direct any habitual 
offender who may be in a corrective settlement to be transferred to another corrective 
settlement. 
 

CHAPTER  IV 
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE 

 
 Penalty for failure to comply with certain provisions of the Act.-  16. A habitual 
offender who without lawful excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie upon him – 

(a) fails to appear in compliance with a notice issued under section 4, or 



(b) intentionally omits to furnish any information required under that section or 
furnishes as true any information which he knows, or has reason to believe to be 
false or does not believe to be true, or 

(c) refuses to allow his finger and palm impressions, foot prints and photographs to be 
taken by any person acting under an order passed under section 6, or 

(d) fails to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1), or with an order of the 
Deputy Commissioner under sub-section (2) of section 7 or with an order of the 
State Government under section 11, may be arrested without warrant and shall be 
punishable – 
(i) on first conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six 

months or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both, 
and  

(ii) on second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to one year or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or 
with both: 

Provided that if the court after taking into consideration the offender’s age and 
physical and mental condition and his suitability for receiving training of corrective character 
in a corrective settlement is satisfied that it is expedient with a view to his reformation and 
the prevention of crime that he should received training of corrective character for a 
substantial time the court may in lieu of sentencing the offender to any punishment under this 
section, after giving him an opportunity of showing cause, that he shall receive corrective 
training in a corrective settlement for such term not exceeding three years as it may 
determine. 

Arrest of persons outside restriction area or corrective homes. – 17. If any person 
– 

(a) is found outside the area to which his movement have been restricted, in 
contravention of the conditions under which he is permitted to leave such area, or 

(b) escapes from any corrective settlement in which he is placed, he may be arrested 
without warrant by a police officer, village headman or village authorities and 
taken before a Magistrate who, on proof on the facts, may order him to be 
removed to such area or to such corrective settlement there to be dealt with in 
accordance with this Act and the rules made thereunder. 

 
 



CHAPTER  V 
MISCELLANEOUS 

 
 Bar of Jurisdiction. – 18. No court shall question the validity of any direction or 
order issued under this Act. 
 Bar of legal proceedings. – 19. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall 
lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under 
this Act. 
 Power to delegate. – 20. The State Government may, by notification in Official 
Gazette, direct that any power exercisable by it under this Act except the power under section 
21 may also be exercised subject to such condition, if any, as may be specified in the 
notification, by such officer not below the rank of a Deputy Commissioner as may be 
specified therein. 
 21. (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules 
for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such 
rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: - 

(a) the form of notice under section 4 and the manner in which such notice may be 
served; 

(b) the form of the register of habitual offenders and the particulars to be entered 
therein; 

(c) the authority to whom and the manner in which any change or intended change of 
ordinary residence shall be notified under sub-section (1) of section 7; 

(d) the nature of restrictions to be observed by registered offenders whose movements 
have been restricted; 

(e) the grant of certificate of identity to registered offenders and inspection of such 
certificates; 

(f) the conditions under which the offenders may be permitted to leave the area to 
which their movements have been restricted or the corrective settlements in which 
they have been placed; 

(g) the terms upon which offenders may be discharged from corrective settlements; 
(h) the working, management, control and supervision of corrective settlements 

including the discipline and conduct of persons placed therein; 



(i) the conditions for, and the manner of, approving or certifying privately managed 
settlements; 

(j) the appointment of non-official visitors for corrective settlement; 
(k) the conditions and circumstances under which members of the family of a 

habitual offender may be permitted to stay with him in a corrective settlement; 
(l) the periodical review of the cases of all persons whose movements have been 

restricted or who are placed in corrective homes under this Act; 
(m) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed under this Act. 
(3) In making rules under this Act the State Government may provide that a 

contravention of the rules shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred 
rupees. 

(4) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, 
before the Nagaland Legislative Assembly while it is in session for a total period of seven 
days, which may be comprised in one session for in two successive sessions, and if, before 
the expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the sessions immediately following, the 
Nagaland Legislative Assembly agree in making any modification in the rule or the Nagaland 
Legislative Assembly agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have 
effect only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case may be; so however, that any 
such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything 
previously done under that rule. 

 
THE SCHEDULE  

See Section 2 (e) 
I 

Offences under the Indian Penal Code 
CHAPTER  XII 

 
Sections 
231 Counterfeiting coin. 
232 Counterfeiting Indian coin. 
233 Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting coin. 
234 Making or selling instrument for counterfeiting Indian coin. 



235 Possession of instrument or material for the purpose of using the same for 
counterfeiting coin; if Indian coin. 

239 livery of coin, possessed with knowledge that it is counterfeit. 
240 Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he 

became possessed thereof. 
242     Possession of counterfeit coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he 

became possessed thereof. 
243 Possession of Indian coin by person who knew it to be counterfeit when he 

became possessed thereof. 
 

CHAPTER  XVI 
 
304 Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 
307 Attempt to murder. 
308 Attempt to commit culpable homicide.  
310 Thug 
311 Punishment  
322 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt. 
324 Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means. 
326 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means. 
327 Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property or to constrain to an illegal act. 
328 Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence 
329 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property or to constrain to an illegal 

act. 
332 Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty, 
333 Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty. 
347 Wrongful confinement to extort property, or to constrain to illegal act. 
365 Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person. 
366A Procuration of minor girl. 
366B Importation of girl from foreign country. 
368 Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person. 
369 Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years with intent to steal from its person. 
 

 



CHAPTER  XVII 
379 Theft. 
380 Theft in dwelling house, etc. 
382 Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the 

committing of the theft. 
384 Extortion. 
385 Putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion. 
386 Extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt. 
387 Putting person in fear of death of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion. 
392 Punishment for robbery. 
393 Attempt to commit robbery. 
394 Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery. 
395 Punishment for dacoity. 
397 Robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt. 
398 Attempt to commit robbery or dacoity when armed with deadly weapon. 
399 Making preparation to commit dacoity. 
400 Punishment for belonging to a gang of dacoits. 
401 Punishment for belonging to a gang of thieves. 
402 Assembling for purpose of committing dacoity. 
411 Dishonestly receiving stolen property. 
414 Assisting in concealment of stolen property. 
451 House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment. 
452 House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint. 
453 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking. 
454  Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable 

with imprisonment. 
455 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation for hurt, assault or 

wrongful restraint. 
456 Punishment for lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night. 
457 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence 

punishable with imprisonment. 
458 Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night for hurt, assault, or wrongful 

restraint. 



459 Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurking house-trespass or house- 
breaking. 

460 All persons jointly concerned in a lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by 
night punishable where death or grievous hurt caused by one of them. 

II 
Offence under the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956. 
Living on the earnings of prostitution.