Morung Express News
AUGUST 17, DIMAPUR: A group of councilors from Chumukedima have petitioned the Governor of Nagaland to immediately intervene in what it termed as illegal selection of Chairperson for the Chumukedima Municipal Council by the Minister of Industry and Commerce as well as other discrepancies in the selection process.
The allegations were made in a joint letter addressed to the Governor by six Councilors from Chumukedima namely Batuo Kuotsu, Ghushito Zhimomi, Niken Aonok, Khriesavilie Yoshu, Khriesavilie and Keneisetuo. The Councilors stated that the selection of the Chairperson was in contravention of the existing rules. The disgruntled councilors also explained that the earlier Chairperson had been charge-sheeted under section 325,302 and 34-IPC for reported criminal offense.
The six councilors pointed out that despite the Governor calling for a review of the Nagaland Municipal Bill on August 12, the Minister had come with outsiders along with the nominated members and selected a new Chairperson. “The action clearly undermines the office of the Governor by none other than a responsible Government which is very serious as it will set a very bad precedent” the letter stated.
The councilors lamented that after the Municipal Council elections in December 2004, the present Government nominated three members when actually it should have been only two members as per Nagaland Municipal Act 2001. “The act states that under Clause (4) No. 21 of Chapter III the Government can nominate only one-fifth of the elected members”, the letter pointed out while drawing the attention that since there were eleven elected members, one-fifth would work out to only two members. It further rued that the nominated members and ex-officio members were given voting rights which violated Article 243 R of the Constitution. The councilors stated that the message sent by the Secretary Local self-government vide order No.MAC/HOME-19/2004 dated January 3 2005 itself violated the rules. Keeping in mind these discrepancies, the Councilors appealed to the Governor to immediately intervene and to “save democracy.”
The Minister of Industry and Commerce H Khekhiho Zhimomi, when contacted for comment on the allegations against him, categorically rubbished the contention of the six councilors. “There is no question of outsiders taking part in the selection process since the voting process is entirely on the discretion of the concerned members of the council themselves” he said. He questioned the intent of the allegations and that there was no reason why he should interfere in the process or even be there.
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