State government rejects JACWR demand for Advocate General’s removal

State govt. stands solidly behind the advocate general – Chief Secretary –

In an unequivocal reaction to the recent war of words between Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) and Advocate General’s office supported by those condemning the June 19 Guwahati incident, the state government has not only condemned JACWR’s demand for the removal of the AG but also outrightly stated that it stood “solidly” behind him.

In a statement issued by state chief secretary Lalthara Saturday, the state government said that it fully supported the AG who has been “successfully fighting” many court cases on behalf of Nagaland government.

Stating that the AG enjoyed the full confidence of the state government, the chief secretary further went on to condemn the JACWR for demanding the AG’s removal on “frivolous grounds”.

The statement, while condemning the June 19 incident, said that the AG K.N. Balagopal was “verbally abused with choices invectives” by some members of JACWR as he was coming out of the court room after conclusion of the day’s hearing on women’s reservation in state municipalities.

It may be mentioned that JACWR had submitted representations demanding immediate removal of the AG and replacement with a senior Naga advocate before the next court hearing slated for June 27 to the state governor and the chief minister.

Addl AGs’ statement malicious: JACWR
Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR) Sunday reiterated its stand and said it stood by “all the facts” given in its statement that was published in local dailies on June 20. JACWR also termed the statement made by the two Additional Advocate Generals (Addl AGs) that was published on June 23 “false and malicious”.

In a statement, JACWR said that the committee has been silently observing the “attack” and “false allegations” on its members, Naga Mothers Association (NMA) and other apex women organizations by organizations like Naga Hoho, Naga Students’ Federation, Dimapur Bar Association and the two Addl AGs.

JACWR stated that the reactions to the “abuse and threats” on Naga women leaders outside the court on June 19 at Gauhati High Court by civil society organizations including lawyers not only question the integrity but also defamed and passed judgments on women instead of verifying facts about the incident. This has proved the “complete biasness” towards women.

Categorically reiterating that JACWR stood by the facts it provided, the committee said that more than “seventy lawyers were witness” to the court proceedings and all the members of the women delegation were present in the court throughout the proceedings.

Once again terming the allegation that some JACWR members misbehaved with the AG was “false and defamatory”, the committee reiterated that no apology was made by senior Counsel C. Gonsalves before the court nor an undertaking tendered as witnessed by two women representatives and lawyers from Human Rights Law Network, Guwahati, said that JACWR statement.

Questioning the Addl AGs on such false statements, JACWR said they were not even “witness to the lady talking to the AG”.

JACWR reacts to DBA, NH, NSF statements
JACWR stated that the serious allegations made by Dimapur Bar Association (DBA) against some women members was “indicative of their ignorance” that the committee comprised of seven members representing apex women organizations and women leaders from NMA, NWHD, TWO and ENWO have been part of the delegation.

Stating that JACWR members have attended 18 court hearings in Kohima and Guwahati on women reservation till date and they were fully conversant with procedures of the court, the committee reiterated that none of the seven JAC members had spoken to the AG, Nagaland on that “fateful day when Naga women were abused and harassed”. The statement said it was objectionable that DBA resorted to accusation and defamations without facts.

JACWR also reacted to Naga Hoho (NH) statement which was published in the media and stated that in all the 18 court hearings, Naga Women leaders have maintained “dignity” and exhibited pride in their culture by wearing traditional Naga clothes.

The committee also stated that NSF’s “irresponsible accusations” against JACWR and women leaders was “malicious and malafide” as there was “no misconduct by certain delegates” from NMA.

With reference to the 73rd and 74th Amendment and Article 371A, JACWR said the High Court judgment order dated October 21, 2011 was explicit and no further explanations were needed and “advised” NSF  to be more matured and read the same as well as the one dated April 27, 2012 before “they resort to unwarranted accusations on their mothers”.

JACWR expressed dismay at the way NH, NSF, DBA and theHigh Court Bar Association, Kohima,  came to hasty conclusions and accused its women delegation by hearing only “one side of the story” and without verifying the truth from JACWR.

Stating that their “wild allegations and accusations” have proved beyond doubt their partisan stand and their inability to protect Naga women against violence and abuse, JACWR said they have not only tarnished the image of women leaders and their organizations but compounded abuse and harassment suffered by the women delegation at the hands of the AG.

JACWR further stated that it has submitted representations demanding immediate removal of the AG and replacement with a senior Naga advocate before the next court hearing slated for June 27 to the state governor and the chief minister.