Govt notification for ULBs sub judice: NPCC

November 23, 2021 48 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA/DIMAPUR, NOV 23 (NPN): After Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat, All Ward Union Mokokchung Town and Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation had rejected formation of advisory councils to ULBs through nomination, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and Tobu Town Council (TTC) candidates of 2017 on Monday also opposed nomination instead of election.

NPCC: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Therie, maintained that the government notification for nomination to ULBs was in complete violation of the Municipal Act and inconsistent with the basic structures laid down in the Act.

Addressing media at Congress Bhavan at Kohima, Therie said that apart from violation of principles of the Act, the matter was still pending before the court, and therefore questioned the government’s “audacity to override” the issue when it was sub judice.

Therie pointed out that unless the issue of 33% women reservation, which was still pending in the court was resolved, any attempt(s) to hold ULB elections will be liable for contempt of court.

He also asserted that unless elections were held, there was no provision for nomination of the advisory councils. Only after election, one third (1/3rd) of the elected members can be nominated by the government, he added.

In view of where the matter stood, Therie said Congress party will reject the notification and protest against the nomination by issuing petitions to the deputy commissioners in all 12 districts.

Taking a dig at the government, Therie said in its quest for a “petty amount of funds”, the government had no right to adopt a dictatorial approach in the matter.

With all these issues unresolved, he said the Congress will raise its voice so that the public will also become aware about it. He said that while the government has the power to rectify or amend the Municipal Act, it (the government) has so far not tabled any amendment to the House till date. “But they suddenly come up with this plan to nominate, which is a clear case of manipulation,” Therie said.

NPCC working president, Khriedi Theünuo, informed that after Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) withdrew the case (SLP) in the Supreme Court on 33% reservation, the Delhi-based People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has taken up the case. Khriedi questioned the state government as to whether it had informed the court about its decision for nomination to ULBs since the matter was subjudice?

Tseminyu district: On demand for Tseminyu district, Therie said unless power was decentralised such issues would continue to crop up since all the EACs and SDOs of the subdivisions were unable to execute any policy.

He said under the present setup, all the powers and funds were centralised in Kohima. He said this rendered all the other subdivision officials as mere statutory heads without any authority to act on their own.

Naga issue: Therie said that since talks have concluded, the only way forward was for the State Legislative Assembly to ask Centre to implement whatever has been decided as per agreements signed.

He said that itself could have resolved the issue but instead of endorsing the negotiations that have concluded, the State government was still appealing for negotiations to continue, even though there was nothing more to discuss.

TTC candidates oppose: Tobu Town Council (TTC) candidates of 2017 have opposed the Municipal Affairs Department’s notification of November 18, 2021 for appointment of advisory council members.

In a representation addressed to additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Tobu, candidates- YC Langsao and L Kaiba on behalf TTC candidates demanded that no such appointment be made to the council without counting of votes from ballot boxes.

The duo also warned that they would be forced to take recourse to any action in the future in the event authorities failed to intervene in the matter.

The duo also mentioned that in 2017, as per the order of State Election Commission for election to urban local bodies (ULBs), the polls to TTC were conducted peacefully on February 1, 2017 with 33% reservation for women candidates. They said some candidates were even elected unopposed.

Subsequent to the State government passed an order withholding the election to ULBs, after which the ADC had kept all ballot boxes inside the strong Room at ADC office, Tobu. These boxes were then shifted to Tobu police station for safe custody. They said, till date, the ballot boxes were lying at the police station.

They said huge amount of money were spent by ULB candidates in 2017 and therefore, demanded to know from the ADC as to who would pay them compensation?

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/govt-notification-for-ulbs-sub-judice-npcc/245139.html