New Delhi, 12 December (MTNews): The Supreme Court, on December 11, acknowledged the affidavit filed by the chief secretary of Nagaland regarding the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023, Live Law reported. According to the report, the Act, passed on November 9, 2023, by the Nagaland Assembly, mandates a 33% reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies, aligning with Article 243T (Reservation of Seats) of the Indian Constitution.
The matter came before a Bench comprising Justices S.K. Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, responding to a petition filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and women’s rights activist Rosemary Dzuvichu. They contested a resolution passed by the Nagaland Assembly, seeking exemption from the mandatory 33% reservation for women in Municipalities and Town Councils, as stipulated by Part IXA of the Constitution of India.
Earlier, in November, the State Counsel informed the Court that the Assembly had passed the Reservation Bill, assuring that the Rules would be framed within a month. Furthermore, it was stated that the election process would conclude by April 30, 2024. In light of this, the Court directed the filing of an affidavit and adjourned the matter to the recent hearing.
During the hearing, the State counsel updated the Bench, confirming the submission of the affidavit. Responding to this, the Bench issued the following order:
“An affidavit has been filed on behalf of the chief secretary of Nagaland affirming that the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023 was passed on 9.11.2023 by the Nagaland assembly and was gazette notified on the same day, after receiving assent of the governor. It is further stated that the rules will be framed within a month….by on or before 8th January 2024 and the election process shall be completed by April 2024. List on 3rd May 2024. The notice of contempt can be discharged on the next date as the election process shall be completed by then.”
Justice Kaul, before concluding the session, shared some notable oral observations: “I have always felt that the women section of the society plays a very important role there. But somehow in election processes, it is left to the men only…Sometimes the social changes take a little longer.”
