Urban, town bodies adopt 4-point resolution on Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023

MOKOKCHUNG — In the backdrop of a select committee being constituted to re-examine the Nagaland Municipal Bill (NMB) 2023, three municipal and 36 town councils have resolved to request the panel to delete sections and clauses that are likely to infringe Article 371 A and convene another consultative meeting after the Bill becomes an Act.

Addressing a press conference after the consultative meeting of the urban and town councils in Mokokchung on Saturday, the presidents of Dimapur Urban Council Chairman Federation, Association of Kohima Municipal Ward Panchayat and All Ward Union Mokokchung Town said that they have no comments regarding 33% reservation for women in the NMB 2023.

However, they expressed concern over “tax on land and building”, which they claim breaches the constitutional provisions on the land holding system of the Nagas. In this connection, they requested the government to ensure that the new Bill doesn’t infringe Article 371 A.

It was informed that the house adopted a four-point resolution after a thorough deliberation at the meeting held days ahead of the Supreme Court’s hearing of a civil suit in connection with the municipal Act slated on September 26, 2023.

The house lauded the state government, tribal hohos, woman organisations, student bodies etc. for deciding to conduct ULB election as per the Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023, and resolved to abide by the wisdom and decision of the CSOs to hold the much-delayed election.

It also appealed to the tribal hohos to identify individuals and organisations that are detrimental to the protection and preservation of Article 371 A and initiate certain precautionary measures in the interest of the Nagas.

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