ATRPFM serves 48 hrs deadline
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 28 2018:
The All Tribal Rights' Protection Forum Manipur (ATRPFM) has served a 48 hour ultimatum to the Government of Manipur to revoke the Cabinet decision of constituting a Cabinet subcommittee to look into the functioning of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in respect of Senapati, Churachandpur and Tamenglong.
In this regard, the ATRPFM submitted the ultimatum to Governor Dr Najma A Heptulla today seeking her intervention to take up necessary steps get the Cabinet order revoked within 48 hours.
The ATRPFM cautioned that it will resort to strong forms of agitation if the Government fails to pay heed to the demand.
According to the ATRPFM, on August 23, 2018, the Secretary of the Tribal Affairs and Hills (TA & Hills) issued an order pursuant to a decision of the State Cabinet to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the functioning of Autonomous District Councils in respect of Senapati, Churachandpur and Tamenglong.
Consequently, a six-member Cabinet subcommittee was constituted led by Works Minister, Th Biswajit Singh as chairman with five Ministers including V Hangkhanlian, Jayantakumar, L Dikho, Kayisii and Letpao Haokip as members to look into the functioning of Autonomous District Councils of the said three districts, the tribal rights body added.
The ATRPFM said, "By virtue of item No 2 of the: Scheduled Matters in the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) order, 1972 under Article 371C of the Constitution, the power and functioning of District Councils in hill areas are absolutely within the purview of the Hill" Areas Committee".
The tribal rights body also said that, thus, formation of a new Cabinet sub-committee to look into the functioning of Autonomous District Councils "is arbitrary, biased and unconstitutional".
The ATRPFM reasoned that there is the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) within Manipur Legislative Assembly to look after the ADCs, and the "Cabinet has no authority to interfere in functioning of ADCs in hill areas".
According to the tribal rights body, the Chairman and a member that appeared at SI No.3 of the sub-committee are non-tribals, "and thus not a member of HAC, and so they are not qualified to represent tribal people and have no authority to look after the ADCs".
According to the ATRPFM, the ADCs are autonomous bodies which come within the purview of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), and as such, a Cabinet sub-committee is not a competent authority.