The Nagaland government has informed the Supreme Court that the election process for urban local bodies in the state will be concluded by April 30.
The announcement follows the passage of a bill by the Nagaland Assembly in November, reserving 33% of seats in urban local bodies for women. Notably, the last urban local body elections in the state occurred in 2004.
A bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia acknowledged an affidavit submitted by the Nagaland chief secretary earlier this month. The affidavit outlined that rules for the election process would be formulated within a month, by January 8, 2024.
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The bench noted, "It is further stated that the rules will be framed within a month from the date of the affidavit, i.e., on or before January 8, 2024, and the election process will be completed by April 30, 2024," in an order issued on December 11. The matter has been scheduled for a hearing on May 3.
This development unfolds in the context of a petition filed by the People's Union for Civil Liberties and others, seeking 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies in Nagaland. The petitioners had moved an application against the cancellation of elections and requested the court to take contempt action against those allegedly disregarding its March 14 order on the poll process.
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The bench, in its December 11 order, noted, "Notice of contempt can be discharged on the next date as by that time elections will be over."
Earlier, in July, the Supreme Court criticized both the Centre and the Nagaland government for the non-implementation of the constitutional scheme of one-third reservation for women in urban local bodies.
The court had sought clarification from the Centre regarding the violation of the constitutional scheme by Nagaland, where the assembly had passed a resolution to repeal the municipal act and decided not to conduct elections to urban local bodies.
The state assembly's resolution was prompted by pressure from tribal organizations and civil society groups, citing Naga customary laws that do not permit equal participation of women in political and socio-economic decision-making bodies.
Despite the State Election Commission (SEC) of Nagaland issuing a notification on March 30, canceling the election schedule, the Supreme Court stayed the SEC's notification on April 5. Alongside challenging the cancellation notification, the petitioners also sought the annulment of the Nagaland Municipal (Repeal) Act, 2023.
Various Naga tribal bodies and civil society organizations opposed urban local body elections under the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001, contending that it violated the special rights guaranteed to Nagaland by Article 371-A of the Constitution. The 2001 act, subsequently amended, mandated 33% reservation for women in urban local body elections, as directed by the Supreme Court.
