Bill providing 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies introduced: Nagaland to Supreme Court

The Nagaland government has informed the SC that a bill providing 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies has been introduced in the State Assembly

The Nagaland government has informed the Supreme Court that a bill providing 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies has been introduced in the State Assembly.

The Nagaland Assembly on September 12 decided to refer the Nagaland Municipal Bill, 2023, to the Select Committee for further consideration.

Urban local body elections in the State have been long overdue with the last polls being held in 2004.

The State government told the Supreme Court that this process was possible "in consultation with the tribal heads of 16 major tribes and seven minor tribes on September 1, 2023," who have all agreed to the concept of one-third reservation for women.

The advocate general of Nagaland told a bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia that the matter has been referred to the Select Committee.

"He [advocate general] further submits that the matter has been referred to the Select Committee, which would be able to shortly give its report and requests for a deferment after the first week of November 2023 by which time he is hopeful that the Legislative Assembly will pass the bill," the bench noted in its September 26 order.

The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties and others, seeking 33% reservation for women in the local body elections.