Civic polls: Gauhati high court nod to reservation for women

KOHIMA: In a major development, the Gauhati high court on Tuesday ruled that municipalities and town councils in Nagaland should reserve 33% of their seats for women.
The judgement came in response to a petition filed by a Naga woman who accused ‘extra-constitutional bodies opposed to the election’ of trying to prevent free and fair polls in the state. Several Naga civil groups had opposed reservation for women saying it would infringe on Naga customary laws and tradition as enshrined in the Constitution.
“We are prima facie convinced that elections to constitute municipal councils and town councils in Nagaland with 33% reservation of seats for women should be held freely and fairly,” the judgement, passed on Tuesday morning by chief justice Ajit Singh and justice Achintya Malla Bujor Barua, said.
The court went on to direct the state government ‘to ensure that the election is held freely and fairly and, if necessary, adequate security provided to candidates and voters’.