Newmai News Network
Senapati | November 2
With regard to the recent adoption and recommendation of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) to constitute an “ad hoc committee” to mend the functioning of Autonomous District Councils (ADC) in the hill areas pending its long overdue election, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) said, “the people will not accept any policy decision to suit the convenience and whims of the certain group who are in the helm without following the rules of laws.”
The HAC’s resolution, passed on October 14, intends the formation of a 20-member committee, with 18 members to be selected from former ADC members, local self-government experts, and eminent intellectuals, including two government nominees, the ANSAM mentioned in a press statement issued today.
ANSAM said it “strongly views such propositions” as an anathema to democratic principles and practices. It said that the state government and HAC members are expected to strengthen the local democratic institution especially the hill areas, Autonomous District Council (ADC) which is governed by special provision, Article 371C and safeguarding the interest of the people they represent as the vanguards of hill areas by upholding the spirit and intent of the provision as enshrined in the constitution.
“It is pertinent to recall that the Naga people have outrightly rejected the controversial third (Manipur Hill Areas) District Councils Amendment Act, 2008, Sixth and Seventh (Manipur Hill Areas) District Councils Amendment Bill, 2022 which have heavily came down upon us, deceitfully passing the bill bypassing the HAC in the whims and desires of the state government without undergoing due process. Such an imposed nature has been going on time and again in the pursuit of strengthening and upliftment of local political institutions-HAC, ADC in Manipur which is a sad reality that needs to be done away forthright,” it stated.
It mentioned that ever since the expiry of the tenure of ADC on May 31, 2020, the government of Manipur has been announcing series of commitment to conduct the election of ADC including the last cabinet decision 13-06-2024 yet it never happens till today, depriving the rights of the people, the ANSAM pointed out. “Moreover, unfounded care-taker chairmen were in place for years and anti-tribal bills such as Sixth & Seventh (Manipur Hill Areas) District Councils Amendment Bill, 2022 were surreptitiously introduced and passed in the state assembly wherein rigidly rejected by all tribal apex bodies,” it added.
“Now, the caretaker chairmanship has been struck down by the Gauhati High Court order dated 15-03-2024, WA.NO.353 of 2023, court order cancelling the system of caretaker chairmanship with vide order No. TA-501/1/2022 e-TA & Hills, Government of Manipur. In this denial of situation, the controversial move made by HAC to constitute an ad hoc committee is absurd and very unfortunate,” it reported.
“The HAC and the authority in the helms of this present dispensation in the state of Manipur are requested to relook on the matter and take up immediate necessary actions in the right earnest, to empower its grassroots democracy, the hill areas (Autonomous District Council of Manipur) as per the spirit and intent of Article 371C and the presidential order, 1970 thereby ensures that the ADC is functional accordingly, as per the rule of law,” it added.
