Al Ngullie
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 20
The Supreme Court of India has admitted the Special Leave Petition (SLP) of Naga women organizations challenging the verdict of the Division Bench of the Guwahati High Court, which had, earlier, rejected the women groups’ contest against the Nagaland government’s decision to defer the municipal and town elections in the State as well as not implementing the 33% reservation of seats for women in the municipal institutions.
Consequently following the petition being admitted, the Supreme Court held its first hearing on Monday, November 19, in Delhi, and has directed the Nagaland government and the State agencies in concern to respond within 6 weeks to the SPL filed by the Joint Action Committee for Women Reservation (JACWR).
The JACWR is a conglomeration of apex women organizations in Nagaland that has been spearheading the fight for 33% reservation for women in the municipal organization’s decision-making seats.
Reliable sources confirmed on Tuesday, November 20 that the apex court of the country has admitted the petition that was filed during October first week. The JAC approached the Supreme Court against the verdict of the principal Gauhati High Court ruling in favor of the Nagaland government’s decision to defer the municipal elections.
A leader of the JAC, Rosemary Dzuvichu informed tonight that the Supreme Court has admitted the SPL and heard the petition on November 19. The apex court has issued directives to the State government to respond to the points of petition filed by the women organization. According to the women leader, the court has asked Nagaland’s State apparatus to respond within a timeframe of 6 weeks, Dzuvichu said from Delhi over the phone.
“The petition came up for hearing yesterday (November 19); the petition has been accepted,” the leader said. She explained that the petition is challenging the Guwahati High Court favoring the Nagaland government’s decision to defer the municipal polls and without the implementation of the 33% reservation of seats for women. “Notice (to respond) has been issue to the (Nagaland) government,” she added.
Neither the Advocate General of Nagaland nor any other counsel representing the State could be reached for comment at the time of filing this report. Nonetheless, the reported directive of the Supreme Court is expected to come to the State’s notice in a few days.
The Naga Mothers’ Association, Watsü Mungdang, Eastern Naga Women Organization, Naga Women Hoho of Dimapur and the Tenyimi Women Organization are some of the principal Naga women organizations comprising the JAC.
For citizens’ note, the tussle over whether or not to implement the Women reservation quote in the municipal apparatuses in Nagaland has been an interesting – if a roller-coaster ride – since 2009-2010 when the Kohima bench of Guwahati High Court quashed the Nagaland State Cabinet’s decision to indefinitely postpone the municipal and town council elections in Nagaland. The bench had then directed the state government to conduct the elections to municipal polls before January 20, 2012.
The Nagaland government went to Guwahati High Court. After a series of hearing, the principal high court ruled in August this year in favor of the government to defer the polls.
