ATSUM rants at chairman, asks HAC to clarify on ADC Bill 2021
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, August 22 2022: The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has demanded the chairman of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) to clarify on alleged statement attributed to the latter "pertaining to the ongoing movement on the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021" .

According to ATSUM, the chairman of HAC circulated on social and local media on August 21 "whereby he deliberately misled the people of the state pertaining to the ongoing movement of ATSUM and tribal people demanding the introduction of the HAC recommended The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill-2021' in the Manipur Legislative Assembly" .

In a statement, the tribal students' body said that the movement/demand of ATSUM since the past 12 months starting from August 2021 till today is all about extension of support to the recommendation of legislators (HAC members) .

The ATSUM further said that it has no personal or vested interest in the movement.

The ATSUM also said "it is unfortunate to learn that the chairman of HAC is alleging the ongoing movement as incited by group of self-vested interest individuals or organisations.

Rather, the ATSUM would like to ask the chairman, HAC to clear his statement whether it is his own self-interest or the resolution of the incumbent HAC members?" the ATSUM asked.

The ATSUM then said that, in India, as the legislative supremacy prevails in all accounts and as empowered by the law, the HAC members across all political parties line including the Bharatiya Janata Party of which the incumbent chairman of HAC belongs, unanimously recommended the' Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021" on August 16, 2021 under the chairmanship of Leishiyo Keishing which aims to strengthen the Autonomous District Councils and ensure equity in development in the state of Manipur permissible under Article 371C of Indian Constitution read with the Manipur Legislative (HAC) Orders 1972.It questioned how by supporting the recommendation of HAC members of which the incumbent chairman is occupying the chair now, is the doing of ATSUM or pursuing an unconstitutional or self interest act? "Is the ATSUM wrong in supporting the supremacy of the legislative (HAC)? How the incumbent chairman of HAC could contradict the decision of the chair which he is occupying?" the Union further queried.

The statement reminded that after the unanimous recommendation of ADC Bill 2021 on August 16, 2021 by the HAC, a number of HAC meetings had been convened and asked the state government to convene Special Manipur Legislative Assembly Session to introduce and pass the recommended ADC Bill 2021 into an Act.

It reminded the HAC chairman to refer back to the proceedings of meetings of HAC dated August 16, 2021 and other succeeding meetings to acquaint himself on the subject matter.

According to ATSUM, it is a well-known fact that the "so called the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Sixth Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2022 are handiworks of the executives to thwart the legislative procedures, whereas the Manipur (Hill.

Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 is a landmark bill unanimously recommended under a permissible legislative procedures by HAC.

"Therefore, is it becoming for the incumbent chairman of HAC to subscribe to the bills drafted by the executives and disown the legitimate bill which was recommended by the chair he is occupying?" said the tribal body.

According to ATSUM, it has to be known that the legislature is always supreme over the executive in the legislation of law.

It will not be wrong to say that the crux of the impasse today is that while the ATSUM is supporting the constitutionally mandated recommendation of the legislators, the incumbent chairman of HAC is supporting the executives disowning his own constitutional obligations, the tribal student body added.

The statement also mentioned that ATSUM and tribal people of the state are asking neither the patronage of anyone nor trying to snatch the rights of other communities but only asking for introduction of "the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021" in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and passing of the same into an act which will ensure equity in development in the state of Manipur.

"The chairman of HAC may clear the doubts of everyone whether the statement he made in the media is his personal interest or the official resolution of the Hill Areas Committee, so that, accordingly the ATSUM and the tribal people will decide the fate of the ongoing movement," it further added.

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