ULB election to be concluded by April 31, Nagaland govt. tells SC

DIMAPUR — A day after the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) unanimously approved a bill incorporating 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies (ULBs), the state government told the Supreme Court that it would conclude the election process and announce results by April 31, 2024.

The court termed the development as ‘good news,’ as the contentious issue of reservation of seats for women, among others, has stalled urban local body polls in the state for an extended period with the last municipal polls held in 2004.

The Supreme court was hearing a petition filed by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and others seeking a 33 per cent reservation for women in the ULBs in Nagaland.

Appearing before a bench comprising justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sudhanshu Dhulia, and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, the advocate general for the state of Nagaland submitted that the rules would have to be framed and the State Election Commission would step in for the poll process.

Directing the advocate general to file an affidavit in this regard, the bench fixed the next hearing of the matter on December 11, stating that the state is expected to frame the rules by then.

Also read: Nagaland ULBs: 33% women reservation gets green light