Nagaland ratifies bill to extend SC, ST reservation

Nagaland

17th January 2020

Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio speaking at the first day of the 5th session of the 13th Assembly on January 17. (DIPR Photo)

Our Correspondent

Kohima | January 17

The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) today adopted a resolution for ratification of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2019.

After the bill was introduced and moved by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for consideration and passing at the fifth session of the 13th assembly here today, NLA speaker-in-charge Sharingan Longkumer announced that the Bill has been adopted unanimously.

The House ratified the amendments to the Constitution of India falling within the purview of clause (d) of proviso to clause (2) of Article 368, proposed to be made by the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2019 as passed by both the Houses of Parliament.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill stated that Article 334 of the Constitution lays down that the provisions of the Constitution relating to the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the representation of the Anglo-Indian community by nomination in the House of the people and Legislative Assemblies of the states shall cease to have effect on the aspiration of the period of 70 years from the commencement of the Constitution.

These provisions will cease to have effect on January 25, 2020, if not extended further. Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a statement, stated that although the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have made considerable progress in the last 70 years, the reasons which weighted with the Constituent Assembly in making provisions with regard to the aforesaid resolution of seats have not yet ceased to exist.

“Therefore, with a view to retaining the inclusive character as envisioned by the founding fathers of the Constitution, it is proposed to continue the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes for another ten years ie up to January 25, 2030,” the statement stated.