ULB: CM asked to overhaul municipal law; instate inquiry member

Dimapur, Sep. 5 (EMN): The joint co-ordination committee (KC) and the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) have requested the chief minister of Nagaland to examine and ‘overhaul the entire Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001, which will do away the loopholes in the existing Act, including the women reservation issue.’ The organisations issued a copy of a representation addressed to the chief minister, on Wednesday.

‘Most of the demands have been fulfilled in due course, including the revocation of the resolution taken on 24 November 2016 by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in connection with ULB election,’ the statement read. ‘However, the most important demand for amendment/repeal of the Nagaland Municipal Act of 2001 has not been fulfilled till date. On the contrary, it has come to our knowledge that the present government has appointed a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the 33% women reservation issue instead of taking steps for amendment/repeal of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 which is overdue.’

“To examine the issue on women reservation is only a part to the said Act of 2001. Instead of piece-meal exercise wasting precious public money and time, it would be more appropriate and reasonable to examine and overhaul the entire Act, which will do away the loopholes in the existing Act, including the women reservation issue,” the JCC-NTAC stated.

The groups referred to a resolution from a meeting of all tribal apex organisations of the state with the JCC and NTAC in the APO hall in Kohima on Feb. 7 2017: “The ULB election in Nagaland state cannot be held until and unless amendments are made in the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 by safeguarding the powers conferred under Article 371-A of the Constitution of India.”

The JCC and the NTAC at Kohima has requested the chief minister to take steps for amendment/repeal of the Nagaland Municipal Act at the earliest before holding the ULB elections.

Judicial inquiry commission

Likewise, the JCC-NTAC has requested the government to appoint a member of the judicial inquiry commission that was to probe the firing incident at Dimapur on Jan. 31 2017.

‘The government of Nagaland has constituted a Judicial Inquiry Commission on the firing incident at Dimapur on 31th January, 2017 with clear terms of reference including the period of completion of the inquiry by the commission. Inspire of the long lapse of time, the inquiry commission is yet to submit its report,’ the representation read.

The JCC-NTAC stated to have learned that one of the members of the commission had resigned and that the panel was not in a position to proceed with the inquiry due to lack of quorum. “It is also learnt that the commission has written to the government for appointment of a member in the commission. However, no appointment has been made till date. The period of completion of the inquiry is also expired and it appears the government has not passed any order extending the time for completion of the inquiry,” the representation stated.

The JCC-NTAC has requested the government to appoint a member to the commission and to issue appropriate orders extending the time along with a stipulated date for early completion of the inquiry.