Nagaland Protest

• Nagaland has been under strife since the announcement of civic bodies’ poll, the matter reaching its peak in the last week.
• The Nagaland civic bodies’ elections were announced in December 2016, which has been followed by extensive protests by traditional tribal bodies against the government, also resulting in loss of two lives.

About Article 371(A) and dispute

• According to Article 371 (A), "no Act of Parliament shall apply to Nagaland in relation to religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to the Naga Customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources".
• The SC ruled in the favour of the mothers in 2016, following which the state cabinet gave a go-ahead to conduct the polls, which had not taken place in Nagaland for well past a decade and a half.
• But going by the provisions of Article 371 (A) any law passed by Parliament or the Supreme Court directives are not binding to the state.
• And that's where the root of conflict lies. Various tribal bodies, including the Naga Hoho, have called for a boycott to oppose 33 per cent reservation for women arguing that reservation (for women) would infringe on Naga customary laws and tradition as protected under Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.
• Simply put, it's is a direct confrontation between articles 243 (D) — which gives 33 per cent reservation for women — and 371 (A), which gives special status to the Nagaland State based on distinct political and cultural structure.
• Interestingly, Article 243 (M) gives exception to the reservation policy (spelt out under article 243 (D).

By: Vishal