Nagaland Assembly’s Monsoon Session Day 2: CM Rio introduces New Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio introduced the new Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023 on the second day of the monsoon session of the 14 Nagaland Legislative Assembly today. The Bill includes provision for 1/3rd reservation of seats in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for women as directed by the Supreme Court. The Bill was introduced and referred to the Select Committee.

After a day-long discussion on Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, Chief Minister Rio made his final remarks, stating that the new Nagaland Municipal Bill should be adequately addressing all concerns of the state’s people.

He informed the house that provisions in regard to taxes on land and buildings, and properties have not been kept.
“While repealing the Act, it was also decided that we will make a new Act expeditiously in consultation with our Tribal Bodies and all others concerned, for the governance of our towns and cities and urban areas, which is fully in consonance with our accepted customary practices and traditions, and Article 371A,” CM Rio said.

The Chief Minister maintained that the Nagaland Government has been making every effort for the past 22 years and that the Court and the Government of India (GoI) should recognize this.

He also noted that the Supreme Court had later reviewed the State’s decision to repeal the Act, and in its most recent decision, the Supreme Court had made it clear that the personal laws of Nagaland and the special status granted to that region under Article 371(A) were not being affected in any way, even as it advocated for women to receive one-third of the seats in the legislature.

“We have been given by the Hon’ble Court one last of the last opportunities to abide by its directions, and the case is next listed on 26th September 2023,” CM Rio added.

Mentioning that several attempts by the Government over the years to conduct the elections to ULBs were unsuccessful, CM Rio said that the tribal bodies and the people always considered the attempts for holding elections with suspicion and there were stiff and vehement opposition.

However, the Chief Minister said that the government is encouraged by the support exhibited by all the stakeholders during the consultative meeting held on September 1, 2023.

“I am happy to convey that in the meeting our tribal bodies and organizations have expressed their keenness to take this matter forward, and conveyed their broad agreement to the provisions, in particular, for providing 1/3rd reservation of seats for women in ULBs in the proposed legislation for Municipal Governance in the State,” said Rio.

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