The Nagaland government has assured the Supreme Court that the electoral process for urban local bodies in the state will conclude by April 30. In November, the Nagaland Assembly passed a bill reserving 33% of seats in urban local bodies for women. The last urban local body elections in the state took place in 2004. The Nagaland chief secretary filed an affidavit earlier this month, stating that the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023, was passed on November 9, 2023, and rules would be framed before January 8, 2024, with the election process to be completed by April 30, 2024.
The Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, took note of the affidavit and scheduled the matter for hearing on May 3. The court is addressing a petition filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties and others, advocating for 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies in Nagaland. The petitioners sought contempt action against those responsible for canceling elections, alleging disobedience of the court’s March 14 order regarding the poll process.
The apex court had criticized both the Centre and the Nagaland government in July for not implementing the constitutional scheme of one-third reservation for women in urban local bodies. Nagaland had faced opposition to holding elections from tribal organizations and civil society groups, citing Naga customary laws restricting women’s equal participation in decision-making bodies. The State Election Commission’s cancellation of the election program on March 30 was stayed by the Supreme Court on April 5, leading to ongoing legal proceedings.
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