Morung Express News
Kohima | September 27
The Government of India appears to have been caught between the devil and deep sea, in regard to the implementation of the Delimitation Act as there is a general apprehension that the states where the Act has already come into force may demand revocation if the former fails to enforce the Act in the remaining opposing states.
Altogether, the Delimitation Act has been implemented in 22 states in the country. But most of these states have accepted the Act disappointedly; as such there is every possibility of causing furor in these states. This could also throw the whole country into utter confusion if the Act fails to be implemented in other remaining states, said Idailung Thau, joint secretary of the Hohos’ Joint Action Committee. The JAC is spearheading the demand for total implementation of the Act in Nagaland. These protests and objections may throw the whole country into utter confusion, Idailung opined.
In all the seven North Eastern states and some other states of mainland India, the Act has not come into effect till date due to opposition. Although the PIL filed by the Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) has stalled the implementation of the Act so far, Nagaland too appears to be in dilemma, as the Act has already been used in municipal and town council elections. Moreover, to redo the 2001 census appears to be almost impossible, as it was based on this census that developmental funds and projects have been implemented in the state.
Idailung also alleged that when the Delimitation Act was enacted in 2002 and amended in 2003, Jammu & Kashmir was the only state exempted from the purview of the Act. And Nagaland also tried its best to obtain the same status. However, her efforts went in vain. It was then the CPO filed the PIL to stall the implementation of the Act in Nagaland, he said.
The Centre has extended the tenure of the Delimitation Commission to July 31, 2008 since the whole exercise could not be completed in the last term. However, it is learnt that pressure is mounting on the commission as the whole process has to be completed before July 31 next year.Meanwhile, there was a report that the central government has constituted a cabinet sub-committee to study the complaints of the states opposed to the implementation and to recommend their findings to the parliament for implementation.
The Assistant Solicitor General of India was reported to have disclosed to the Guwahati High Court in the last hearing on CPO PIL that the centre has constituted a sub committee to study the reasons put forth by the states, especially, the North Eastern states, opposed to the implementation and to see feasibility of implementing it.
The Committee would be submitting its report and recommendation to the government before October 15, source also said. Guwahati High Court would hold the next hearing on the PIL filed by the CPO in regard to the 2001 Nagaland census on October 15 next.
Observers said that this sub-committee was constituted only to satisfy the opposing states.
