SC raps Centre, Nagaland over delay in women's quota in civic poll

The central government is not willing to implement the Constitution, the Supreme Court remarked on Tuesday, as it slammed both the Centre and the Nagaland government over non-implementation of the constitutional scheme of one-third reservation for women in civic body elections in the northeastern state.

Observing that Nagaland is a state where women actively participate in every aspect of life, a bench of Justices SK Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia said the Centre cannot preclude reservation from being extended to women in civic bodies by saying it doesn't apply to tribal areas.

"Why is it not being implemented. What are you doing? Politically also you are on the same page. It is your government. You cannot get away by saying that there is some other in the state," the bench said.

"The central government is not willing to implement the Constitution. At the slightest behest, you take action against the state governments. Where a constitutional provision is not being followed, you don not say anything to the state government. What active role have you played to see the constitutional scheme is implemented," the bench told additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre.

Nagaland has a coalition government led by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party is a partner in the ruling dispensation.

At the outset, KN Balgopal, the advocate general of Nagaland, submitted the state government is keen to come up with a new law to satisfy the court, and sought time to seek instructions from the state government.

The apex court said it has given numerous opportunities to the state government but it has done nothing.

Nataraj submitted before the court that 33 per cent quota should indeed be provided to women in urban local bodies in conformity with the Constitution.

When the bench asked why then was it not being implemented, the ASG said the situation in the state is not conducive for it.

"Give us some reasonable time and we will have a quietus to the entire situation," Nataraj said.

The top court said the Centre has been afforded umpteen opportunities but it has not done anything yet.

"You will take extreme stand against state governments which may not be amenable to you. Your own state government is violating the constitutional scheme and you don't want to do anything. How can you wash your hands of it?" the bench said.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, said women are willing to participate if the chief encourages them.

He said participation of women is being obstructed by those in power.

The bench then said in its order, "Advocate General for Nagaland for the nth time seeks to assure the court that the constitutional scheme will not be violated and he needs time to speak to the relevant political dispensation that the only way forward is to implement the constitutional provision...

"In view of the impassioned plea of the AG, we are inclined to give one last of the last opportunity," the bench said.

The apex court clarified that it was not interfering with the customary laws of Nagaland.

"We may only say that whatever are the customary laws of Nagaland and given the special status of the State under Article 371A, are not being touched in any manner. This is a State where education, economic and social status of women is among the best. Thus our concern is why reservation for women cannot be implemented," it said.

The top court had earlier asked the Centre to clarify whether the constitutional scheme of one-third reservation for women in municipality and town council elections can be violated by Nagaland, where the assembly had passed a resolution to repeal the municipal act and resolved not to hold the elections to the urban local bodies.

Observing that an "ingenious method" of repealing the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 was adopted to evade the undertaking given to the apex court about holding the elections, the apex court had said it is an issue of women empowerment.

The top court had on April 5 stayed the March 30 notification cancelling till further orders the election to the ULBs in Nagaland which were scheduled for May 16 after almost two decades.

Following pressure from tribal organisations and civil society groups, the Nagaland assembly had passed a resolution to repeal the municipal act and resolved not to hold the elections.

These organisations said Naga customary laws do not allow women to participate equally in the political and socio-economic decision-making bodies.

On March 30, the State Election Commission had issued a notification cancelling the election programme notified earlier "till further orders" in view of the repeal of the Act.

The apex court is hearing a petition filed by Peoples Union for Civil Liberties and others seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in the local bodies elections.

The petitioners have moved an application before the top court against the cancellation of the elections and urged it to take contempt action for "disobeying" its March 14 order.

Besides seeking quashing of the March 30 notification issued by the SEC cancelling the election schedule, the application has also sought setting aside of the Nagaland Municipal (Repeal) Act, 2023.

The SEC had earlier announced elections to the 39 ULBs in the state. Of the 39 ULBs, Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung have municipal councils, while the rest have town councils.

Several Naga tribal bodies and civil society organisations had opposed the ULB election under the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, asserting it infringes the special rights for Nagaland guaranteed by Article 371-A of the Constitution.

The 2001 Act, which was amended later, made 33 per cent reservation of seats for women mandatory for holding the ULB elections, as directed by the Supreme Court.

ULB elections in the state have been long overdue with the last polls having been held in 2004.