Seen here in this file photo Konyak women in traditional attire presenting a cultural dance item during one of the festivals. (Sorei Mahong/Photo)
Dimapur, October 21 (MExN): The Guahati High Court has asked the Government of Nagaland to conduct the municipal polls, with reservation of seats for women and in accordance with Article 243T and Section 23A of the Constitution of India. The Kohima bench of Guahati High Court also ‘squashed’ the Cabinet’s decision on December 16, 2009 and January 11, 2010 postponing the municipal elections indefinitely.
The High Court said the Cabinet’s decision does not meet ‘rigorous standards of invincible disability and exceptional circumstances’ to justify postponement of the municipal elections. The judgment and order was padded today.
Hold civic polls by Jan 20/2012; apply Women Quota – HC to NagalandThe High Court said the state government must now conduct the municipal elections in accordance with law, and with reservation of seats for women, as required under Article 243T of the constitution. “The elections have been long overdue and therefore there cannot be any justification to hold the election after revision of electoral rolls and delimitation of wards based on the final census report of 2011 as has been alternatively argued by (the government),” the judgment and order said.
The High court has directed the government to conduct the municipal elections and complete the process by January 20, 2012. Interestingly the court’s order said that the state government had not responded to the state election commission’s communications. The court said – “The state Election Commission had pleaded that the State respondents had not responded to the communications sent by the commission. In that view of the matter, the State respondents are directed to render full assistance and cooperation to the state Election Commission and respect the latter’s assessment of the needs and requirements in order to ensure that free and fair elections are conducted.”
In related matter, an elated joint action committee on women reservation of various Naga women frontal organizations has welcomed the High Court’s verdict. The committee comprises the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), Eastern Naga Women’s Organization, Watsu Mungdang and the Naga Women Hoho of Dimapur.
The committee had the writ through its two petitioners Rosemary Dzuvichu, advisor to NMA and Abeiu Meru, president of NMA.
“The honorable court has stressed that elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner and that election to the municipal and town councils is long overdue and should be constituted at the earliest. It has set aside the Nagaland state Cabinet decision of indefinite postponement of municipal and town elections in Nagaland, which is against women and democratic living,” the committee said in a press release to the Media today.
The committee is grateful to the support given by all tribal women organizations, its leaders and ‘their encouraging presence’ in all the court hearings on the said writ petition. The committee also expressed gratitude to counsel Colin Gonsalves, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and his team of lawyers from the Human Rights Law Network, as well as local counsel A Zho and his team of lawyers.
“We are also indebted to all those who contributed in various ways in seeking justice to protect the rights of women in the state,” the committee stated.
The High Court said the Cabinet’s decision does not meet ‘rigorous standards of invincible disability and exceptional circumstances’ to justify postponement of the municipal elections. The judgment and order was padded today.
Hold civic polls by Jan 20/2012; apply Women Quota – HC to NagalandThe High Court said the state government must now conduct the municipal elections in accordance with law, and with reservation of seats for women, as required under Article 243T of the constitution. “The elections have been long overdue and therefore there cannot be any justification to hold the election after revision of electoral rolls and delimitation of wards based on the final census report of 2011 as has been alternatively argued by (the government),” the judgment and order said.
The High court has directed the government to conduct the municipal elections and complete the process by January 20, 2012. Interestingly the court’s order said that the state government had not responded to the state election commission’s communications. The court said – “The state Election Commission had pleaded that the State respondents had not responded to the communications sent by the commission. In that view of the matter, the State respondents are directed to render full assistance and cooperation to the state Election Commission and respect the latter’s assessment of the needs and requirements in order to ensure that free and fair elections are conducted.”
In related matter, an elated joint action committee on women reservation of various Naga women frontal organizations has welcomed the High Court’s verdict. The committee comprises the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), Eastern Naga Women’s Organization, Watsu Mungdang and the Naga Women Hoho of Dimapur.
The committee had the writ through its two petitioners Rosemary Dzuvichu, advisor to NMA and Abeiu Meru, president of NMA.
“The honorable court has stressed that elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner and that election to the municipal and town councils is long overdue and should be constituted at the earliest. It has set aside the Nagaland state Cabinet decision of indefinite postponement of municipal and town elections in Nagaland, which is against women and democratic living,” the committee said in a press release to the Media today.
The committee is grateful to the support given by all tribal women organizations, its leaders and ‘their encouraging presence’ in all the court hearings on the said writ petition. The committee also expressed gratitude to counsel Colin Gonsalves, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and his team of lawyers from the Human Rights Law Network, as well as local counsel A Zho and his team of lawyers.
“We are also indebted to all those who contributed in various ways in seeking justice to protect the rights of women in the state,” the committee stated.
