Legal notice served to fix date for election of ADCs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2020:
A legal notice has been served to the Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Affairs and Hills) to fix the date for election of Autonomous District Councils (ADC) in the hill areas of Manipur.
The notice was served by R Asing, president of Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs Manipur.
The notice stated that the Additional Chief Secretary (TA and Hills) issued an order dated March 19 to extend the term of office of all members of the ADCs, Manipur by a period of six months with effect from June 1 and also notified that the elections of the ADCs will be held in the intervening month of October and November.
However an impugned order dated November 30 was issued which superseded the six ADCs and appointed the respective Deputy Commissioners to exercise all powers and duties conferred and imposed on the Council under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 without due process of law.
It failed to mention the reason thereof and the supersession period and also failed to issue show cause notice.
Therefore the impugned order is unconstitutional, illegal, biased, discriminatory and is ab initio void (to be treated as invalid from the outset) and the order was issued without taking the view of the HAC and in violation of the well established principle of natural justice.
The legal notice further stated that a discussion be held for amicable settlement in the office of R Asing within seven days from the day of receipt of the notice and the day of election for the ADCs should be fixed within 10 days, failing which appropriate legal action including filing of writ petition before the High Court will be done and the higher authorities including the President of India will be approached without giving further notice, it added.