‘You think Hindu men would…?’ Supreme Court to Centre in women reservation case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Centre and Nagaland government for not implementing reservations for women in the local bodies.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Centre and Nagaland government for not implementing reservations for women in the local bodies.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia observed that law leads a social change in the country, adding that had it not been the case, Hindu men would have easily given up on polygamy.

"In our country, law comes before social change; law gives it the impetus. Do you think all Hindu men would otherwise easily agree to have one wife; would people give equal property share to daughters? Constitution provides for equality for all... We have to enforce the Constitution also. You said you will do it in undertaking, then backtracked. 14 years (pendency) is like a life sentence,” Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

The bench was hearing a case pertaining to the delay of its earlier directions seeking to hold a local body election in Nagaland after ensuring that 33 per cent of the seats are reserved for women.

The Supreme Court asked the central government why it was not “doing more” to ensure the implementation of the constitutional provision of reservation in the local body polls for the tribal woman in Nagaland.

The court said it would not let the Centre “wash its hand off the matter”.

"Do not make us say the Central government is hesitant. What role have you played where a Constitutional Provision is not being enforced? We cannot let you wash your hands off. In other cases, where you are not amenable with the State government you have acted ... But here it is the same party (BJP) as the Central government. What is the Central government going to do now? We will not let you wash your hands off,” Justice Kaul added.