The Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation has been silently observing the relentless attack on the JAC members, Naga Mothers Association and other apex women organizations by civil society like the Naga Hoho and the Naga Students Federation, including the Dimapur Bar Association and the two Additional Advocate Generals making further false allegations. The aftermath of the abuse and threats on Naga women leaders outside the court on the 19th June in Gauhati, High Court and the immediate reaction of civil society including lawyers to question the integrity, defame and pass judgments on women, instead of verifying the facts of the incident, has proved the complete biasness towards violence against women, even by a non Naga. The JACWR categorically reiterates that we stand by all the facts as per the JACWR release, published in local dailies on the 20th June 2012, as we along with more than seventy lawyers were witness to the court proceedings. The statements made by the two Additional Advocate Generals published on the 23rd June, therefore, is false and malicious.
All statements and press release issued by the JACWR is factual as all the members of the women delegation were present in the court through out the proceeding. Therefore the accusation of the two Additional Advocate Generals, Nagaland is denied. It is categorically reiterated, that one of the women leaders spoke to the AG outside the court after the court hearing as mentioned in our press release. The allegation that some JACWR ,members misbehaved in an “intimidating behavior” with the AG is false and defamatory. No apology was made by the senior Counsel C. Gonsalves before the court nor an undertaking tendered , as witnessed by two women representatives, including lawyers from Human Rights Law Network, Guwahati ,who were present in the court later, when the AG falsely accused the women of using” filthy language”. The JACWR questions the Additional Advocate Generals on such false statements, as they were not even witness to the lady talking to the AG, Nagaland , but came running back, only after hearing their AG, who had complained of throat problems in the court shouting abuses and threatening the women delegation, at the top of his voice, in front of all lawyers from other states, who were all witness to the shocking incident.
The serious allegations made by the Dimapur Bar Association against some members of the JACWR is indicative of their ignorance that the Joint Action Committee is made up of 7 members, representing apex women organizations and women leaders from the NMA,NWHD,TWO and ENWO have been part of the delegation. None of the seven JAC members had spoken to the AG, Nagaland on that fateful day when Naga women were abused and harassed. Naga women have attended 14 court hearings in Kohima on Women Reservation and 4 hearings in Gauhati , till date, fully conversant with procedures of the court and formalities of the court to be observed. Throughout the 18 court hearings Naga women have observed the outmost respect for the counsels and it is highly objectionable, that the Dimapur Bar Association has resorted to accusation and defamations of the JACWR, without any facts.
The JACWR has also taken strong exception to the statements made by the Naga Hoho which has been published in the media. No one can question the maturity of Naga women leaders- their patience, dignity and decorum maintained by the women leaders throughout the 18 court hearings in search for justice and protection of our Constitutional Rights. Even in a distant place like Gauhati High Court, Guwahati , all the Naga Women leaders have maintained with quiet dignity, their stand as Naga women leaders by wearing their traditional Naga clothes with pride in their culture.
The irresponsible accusations made by the NSF against JACWR and women leaders is malicious and malafide, as there was” no misconduct by certain delegates” from the NMA. As far as the 73rd and 74th Amendment and Article 371A is concerned ,the High Court Judgment order dated 21.10.11 is explicit and no further explanations are needed. Our children, the NSF are advised to be more matured and read the Hon’ble Court Judgement orders dated 21.10.2011 as well as 27.4.2012,before they resort to unwarranted accusations on their mothers.
It is most unfortunate that the Naga Hoho, the NSF, the Dimapur Bar Association and the High Court Bar Association, Kohima, came to hasty conclusions of accusing of the JACWR and its women delegation by hearing only one side of the story and without verifying the truth from the JACWR. Their wild allegations and accusations have proved beyond doubt their partisan stand and their inability to protect Naga women against violence and abuse .They have not only tarnished the personality and image of the women leaders and their organizations ,but compounded the abuse and harassment suffered by the women delegation at the hands of the Advocate General, who is a Non Naga. The JACWR has submitted representations demanding immediate removal of the Advocate General Nagaland and replacement with a senior Naga Advocate, before the next court hearing slated for the 27th June 2012, with the Governor of Nagaland and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland. The response from the State Government on this demand of Naga women will prove their commitment of protecting women against violence in any form.
Members of JACWR
