District Congress Committee (DCC), Tuensang Friday accused the state government of imposing decision on reservation of seat for women in the ensuing civic polls other than the duly chosen option submitted by the administrator of Tuensang Town Council (TTC).
In a letter to state chief secretary, the DCC Tuensang said government notification dated Feb. 7, 2012, which gave three options (Option-I, II & III), categorically notified that administrator of three municipal councils and 16 town councils should submit their choice of any one of the three options in writing, duly countersigned by respective deputy commissioners/additional deputy commissioners, on or before Feb 15.
It pointed out that after following given procedures, TTC administrator had accordingly submitted Option-II for Tuensang to the secretary, urban development (MAC), through letter No.TTC/ELE/2011-12/408 dated Feb 14, 2012.
However, the DCC expressed shock over the government notification dated Feb 27, 2012 which was published in local dailies Feb 29, wherein, Option-III was imposed for Tuensang town. It stated that Ward-13, which was part of Option-I, was also included for Tuensang.
Maintaining that a “special mixed Option” has been created for Tuensang, the DCC alleged government notification dated Feb 27 clearly exposed the “misuse of government authority” to serve the interest of certain parties and individuals.
It stated that such manipulation could not be tolerated in a democratic system and such practices needed to be checked and disallowed.
Meanwhile, the party also claimed that a representation was issued to secretary urban development department (MAC) Feb 20 by TTC advisors belonging to ruling NPF party, after Feb 15, against the choice submitted by TTC administrator as per govt. notification dated Feb 7.
The DCC Tuensang alleged that impugned notification dated Feb 27 was a “well planned” attempt to systematically protect the wards of all the incumbent TTC advisors from coming under the reservation.
It also said that a situation where there was strong opposition to the reservation policy given to women in Nagaland and the government giving attention to “unconstitutional demands” by affected parties/persons, would only create problem that would drag on.
DCC said there would be an affected party irrespective of whichever option was chosen, adding that if government was serious to successfully implement 33% women quota then it should strictly go by its earlier notification.
Further, DCC said it was pertinent for responsible authority to note that advisory board constituted by NPF government in all municipalities should be dissolved soon to pave the way for free and fair election.
It also said impugned notification has exposed that authority acted positively on the representation made by TTC advisors by ignoring all established procedures for choosing the option.
Further, the district congress alleged that hidden agenda to create some situation out of the issue in order to prolong the term of present advisory board could not be ruled out.
It asserted that the impugned notification dated 27th February 2012 was contradictory to the notification dated 7th February 2012 therefore it cannot stand the test of law.
The party claimed it was unknown to them as to from what source the responsible authority could derive such overriding power to set aside the option given by TTC administrator and impose an option contrary to established procedure.
In this regard, the Tuensang district congress has appealed to the chief secretary to uphold the choice given by the administrator of TTC only in line with the procedures laid down in the government’s first notification.
It warned that in the event of the authority failing to address the issue immediately, the Tuensang congress party was determined to take its own course of action and would seek for legal remedy and justice from the appropriate forum.
The letter to the state chief secretary was endorsed by District Congress Committee Tuensang president N. Mosha, District Youth Congress Tuensang president L. Shillem and 53 ACCC Tuensang Sadar-I A/C president J.N. Somba.