DIMAPUR, May 2 � The Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) has expressed strong resentment over the decision of the Nagaland Cabinet to appeal to the principal bench of the Gauhati High Court seeking more time to hold the municipal elections in the State.
The excuse that more time is needed for preparations of the polls is not tenable, said a statement issued by the committee today, while pointing out that the State Election Commission, in its application before the Court, had stated that all arrangements were ready for conduct of the municipal polls within the month of April itself. Further, it said that the Commission had also submitted its list of schedule for conduct of the polls during the month of April.
Saying that the court, for the second time, passed the judgement in favour of implementation of women�s reservation and early holding of civic polls within a month, the JACWR said the poll will be conducted by the State Election Commission and not by the Cabinet.
The Committee, moreover, noted that Part A of the Constitution of India is an integral part of the Constitution itself. The Constitutional provisions do not stand on the same footing as an Act of Parliament and the State Assembly cannot exempt the State from the purview of a Constitutional provision, it said, adding that the law for 33 per cent reservation for women was adopted by the State Legislative Assembly.
It further sought to point out that the court in its judgement order had made it very clear that the opposition from various bodies with regard to 33 per cent reservation for women have been elaborately dealt with in the earlier judgement of Oct 21, 2011, and subsequently rejected the prayer for further extension of time of six months or till the time the Select Committee of House submits its report.
