After introducing the Nagaland Women Reservation Bill in a gushing act of chivalry towards the fairer sex, the DAN government seems to have gotten more than what it bargained for.
The recent judgment of the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court directing Nagaland Government to conduct the long-due election to the municipal and town councils before January 20, 2012, along with 33% reservation of seats for women, has left the government in a fix.
Implementation of women quota in the coming municipal elections will prove to be a herculean task taking into accounts the technicalities and modalities to be involved in a first time exercise. Nagaland state also cannot turn to the Centre for direction as the women bill is yet to become a national act.
The indications and comments doing the round is the state government will not be able to meet the deadline set by the high court on holding of municipal polls.
Besides, with assembly election slated for early 2013, the NPF-led DAN government cannot ignore the underlying current of opposition coming from various male-dominated tribal hohos and even party workers, against women reservation.
When contacted, NPF president and minister of Urban Development, Dr. Shurhozelie, on Wednesday appeared non-committal.
“I am yet to discuss the matter with the department officers. Till yesterday my office has not received the copy of the Court’s judgment order. But as far as my department (Urban Development) is concerned, we are ready,” the minister said.
The Municipal Affairs Cell under Urban Development supervises functions of the municipal and town councils.
The minster also disclosed that earlier during his visit to different districts and after taking the views of various tribal hohos and organizations, his recommendation was that women should be given 33% reservation in town and municipal councils, “not through election but through nomination.”
“But before that (recommendation) was agreed upon by the state cabinet, the women had gone to court,” he added.
On the other hand, former chief minister and senior Congress legislator, KL Chishi expressed reservation about the bill.
“I have my reservation. The women reservation bill has not been passed at the national level. When rumours of the bill that it was to be become a central act was going on, DAN government wanted to take mileage by prematurely introducing the bill in the state assembly,” Chishi said.
The Congress legislator also said that after DAN government passed the women reservation bill, the latter could not implement the same and therefore had to appoint caretaker municipal councils.
According to Chishi, since the Gauhati High Court has already given its ruling, the DAN government is left with two options; either to appeal to the Supreme Court against the high court ruling or go for amendment of the bill.
On women quota Chishi said, “For Nagaland we don’t have any discrimination and women are free to contest 100% in any election, so where is the need of 33% reservation? It is demeaning. Instead enjoy 100%.”
It may be mentioned the Kohima bench of Gauhati High Court on October 21 last, quashed the state cabinet’s decision of indefinite postponement of municipal council and town council elections in Nagaland which were due in January/February 2010 and directed that election to the same be conducted before January 20, 2012.
The court also ruled that 33% women reservation should strictly be implemented in accordance with Article 243T and Section 23A of the Constitution of India.
The Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 was amended in 2006, whereby women were given 33% of seats in municipal and town councils.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the chief minister will be convening a cabinet meeting to further deliberate on the issue after the state election commission issues a notification on the municipal polls.
The recent judgment of the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court directing Nagaland Government to conduct the long-due election to the municipal and town councils before January 20, 2012, along with 33% reservation of seats for women, has left the government in a fix.
Implementation of women quota in the coming municipal elections will prove to be a herculean task taking into accounts the technicalities and modalities to be involved in a first time exercise. Nagaland state also cannot turn to the Centre for direction as the women bill is yet to become a national act.
The indications and comments doing the round is the state government will not be able to meet the deadline set by the high court on holding of municipal polls.
Besides, with assembly election slated for early 2013, the NPF-led DAN government cannot ignore the underlying current of opposition coming from various male-dominated tribal hohos and even party workers, against women reservation.
When contacted, NPF president and minister of Urban Development, Dr. Shurhozelie, on Wednesday appeared non-committal.
“I am yet to discuss the matter with the department officers. Till yesterday my office has not received the copy of the Court’s judgment order. But as far as my department (Urban Development) is concerned, we are ready,” the minister said.
The Municipal Affairs Cell under Urban Development supervises functions of the municipal and town councils.
The minster also disclosed that earlier during his visit to different districts and after taking the views of various tribal hohos and organizations, his recommendation was that women should be given 33% reservation in town and municipal councils, “not through election but through nomination.”
“But before that (recommendation) was agreed upon by the state cabinet, the women had gone to court,” he added.
On the other hand, former chief minister and senior Congress legislator, KL Chishi expressed reservation about the bill.
“I have my reservation. The women reservation bill has not been passed at the national level. When rumours of the bill that it was to be become a central act was going on, DAN government wanted to take mileage by prematurely introducing the bill in the state assembly,” Chishi said.
The Congress legislator also said that after DAN government passed the women reservation bill, the latter could not implement the same and therefore had to appoint caretaker municipal councils.
According to Chishi, since the Gauhati High Court has already given its ruling, the DAN government is left with two options; either to appeal to the Supreme Court against the high court ruling or go for amendment of the bill.
On women quota Chishi said, “For Nagaland we don’t have any discrimination and women are free to contest 100% in any election, so where is the need of 33% reservation? It is demeaning. Instead enjoy 100%.”
It may be mentioned the Kohima bench of Gauhati High Court on October 21 last, quashed the state cabinet’s decision of indefinite postponement of municipal council and town council elections in Nagaland which were due in January/February 2010 and directed that election to the same be conducted before January 20, 2012.
The court also ruled that 33% women reservation should strictly be implemented in accordance with Article 243T and Section 23A of the Constitution of India.
The Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 was amended in 2006, whereby women were given 33% of seats in municipal and town councils.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the chief minister will be convening a cabinet meeting to further deliberate on the issue after the state election commission issues a notification on the municipal polls.
