The seven member Select Committee of Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023, led by its convenor Deputy Chief Minister T R Zeliang, the Urban Development Department and the Chief Secretary of Nagaland J Alam held its first meeting at the Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex, Chümoukedima on Thursday, to examine the new Nagaland Municipal Bill which was tabled on 12 September this year during the second session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

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Sources privy to the meeting informed that the committee had discussed for addition and omission of some clauses in the new bill. Although, a final decision was not taken in today’s meeting, it is learnt that the Committee will have another round of sitting on 7 November at Kohima.

In a notification issued this evening the Governor of Nagaland, La Ganesan has summoned the Third Session (Emergent Session) of the Fourteenth Nagaland Legislative Assembly to meet at 9:30 am on Thursday, 9th November 2023, in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Hall, Kohima.

The emergent session is being called with all likelihood for consideration and passing of the New Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023.

Sources also informed the committee’s intention to remove the provision of reservation for a woman chairperson from the new municipal Bill while retaining 33% women reservation.

Some members present in the meeting also suggested that the nominated members should be indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland while reserving certain seat for the general quota, the source informed.

At the meeting, Zeliang reportedly said in his introductory speech that Nagaland has understood and accepted the reality that its inability to implement a municipality act is costing the State financial loss of hundreds of crores yearly. He also expressed hope that the civil and tribal organisations are now ready to accept Article 243(T) for the betterment of the state.

Zeliang speaking to a section of reporters after the meeting indicated that the committee will seek opinions of the Civil Society Organizations and Tribal Hohos, however sources said it is still uncertain whether a consultative meeting will be held.

The said committee meeting and the emergent session also comes ahead of the next hearing of the matter in the supreme court on November 10.

The Nagaland Assembly, during its second session of the 14th session had constituted a seven-member Select Committee, with Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang as the convenor. The other committee members include Minister KG Kenye, Minister P Paiwang Konyak, Minister Jacob Zhimomi, Minister Metsubo Jamir, Advisors Mhathung Yanthan and Zhaleo Rio, with the NLA Secretary-In-Charge serving as the Member Secretary.