Description
The Nagaland government's decision to cancel indefinitely the election of 36 municipalities and three councils, scheduled for May 16, was stayed on Wednesday by the Supreme Court. The court harshly criticized the state government and the state election commission for violating its earlier order and issued notices to both. On March 14, the court ordered that the electoral process be completed as scheduled and that the 33% reserve for women be implemented. But the election was canceled after the state assembly, following pressure from tribal groups and civil society, passed a resolution on March 28 to repeal the 2001 Municipal Law. the reservation of 33% of seats for women in the urban municipalities. bodies, as provided by the Supreme Court.
On March 30, the State Elections Commission issued a notice canceling the electoral platform "until further notice."
The move was seen as a setback to the government's initiative to hold elections for local bodies in Nagaland. It was also feared that it would affect the pool of women in civic polls. In the recent Nagaland Assembly elections, two women were elected, a first for the state.
A petition has been filed with the Supreme Court against the cancellation of the elections by the Popular Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). He also asked the court to take a contempt action because his March 14 order had not been complied with.
Tribal organizations and civil society groups had demanded that elections be held only after amending the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001. They argued that it violated Section 371(A) of the Constitution, which grants Nagas special rights over their lands and resources, and safeguards their customs and traditions.
Traditional tribal bodies threatened to boycott the municipal elections unless the government guaranteed that the reservation of 33% of the seats would not violate the provisions of Section 371(A).
The electoral commission previously issued a call for elections to three city councils and 36 city councils on May 16 with a 33% reservation for women.
