In view of the contentious election to the Urban Local Body (ULB), the tribal hohos on Monday asked the government of Nagaland to guarantee that 33% women reservation does not infringe Article 371-A.
The consultative meeting of the tribal hohos in Kohima adopted several resolutions, which was submitted to the Chief Minister of Nagaland.
Stating that the Nagaland Municipal Act (NMA) 2001 is a borrowed act, the hohos said that any part/section of the Act infringing Article 371-A should be reviewed and rewritten.
With regard to the words ‘omission/omitted’ used in the amendments of the NMA 2001 regarding ‘land and building taxation’ and ‘scheduled caste’, it said that ‘deletion/deleted’ should be used.
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Calling to revoke and annul the chairperson by reservation or rotation, the hohos said that ‘elected members can elect the chairperson (Scheduled Tribe indigenous inhabitant of Nagaland) amongst themselves, be it a man or a woman, democratically’.
Further, it asked the government to clarify the tenure or the duration of the application of 33% women reservation and suggested that the application of the 33% women reservation should not exceed more than two tenures.
No candidate to file nomination
The tribal hohos also directed all frontal organisations to ensure that no candidates file the nominations till the demands are met and warned that any person found violating it would be penalised as per customary laws.
It also asked the government to make public the Joint Inquiry Commission of the 31 January 2017 Dimapur incident, wherein two persons were killed.
Until and unless the NMA 2001 is reviewed and rewritten, ULB election may be deferred. If the government fails to adhere to the demands, the tribal hohos shall be compelled to “boycott” the ULB elections, the hohos said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of 15 tribal hohos, Tenyimi Peoples Organisation and Central Nagaland Tribes Council.
