PRESS RELEASE 21st.Oct.2011
In a landmark judgement today for women in the state of Nagaland, Hon’ble Judge of the Guwahati High Court ,Kohima passed the judgement on the Writ Petition filed on behalf of Naga Women by the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation consisting of the NMA ,ENWO, Watsu Mongdang and the Naga Women Hoho Dimapur. The JACWR filed the Writ through its two Petitioners– Rosemary Dzuvichu, Advisor,NMA and Abeiu Meru, President,NMA.
The Hon’ble Court has stressed that elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner and that election to the Municipal and Town Councils is long overdue and should be constituted at the earliest. It has set aside the Nagaland State Cabinet decision of indefinite postponement of Municipal and Town elections in Nagaland, which is against women and democratic living . The Court has directed that election to the Municipal and Town Councils to be conducted before 20th January 2012. Further, 33% women reservation must be strictly implemented in the coming Municipal elections.
The JACWR is grateful to the complete solidarity and support given by all Tribe Women Organizations, its leaders and their encouraging presence in all the Court hearings on the said Writ petition. We are indebted to our Counsel, Mr.Colin Gonsalves ,Senior Advocate ,Supreme Court of India, New Delhi and his team of lawyers from the Human Rights Law Network and our local Counsel Mr.A.Zho and his team of lawyers We are also indebted to all those who contributed in various ways in seeking justice to protect the rights of women in the state.
Sd/-
Members of the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation.
Read the Judgment here
