Sadar Hills ADC Chairman counter-charged
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, September 22 2014:
The counter-allegations made by Seikholal Haokip, Executive Member, Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council (ADC) which was published in local dailies today is devoid of merit, according to a dissident group of the Council led by vice-president Paojalet Touthang.
It is very unfortunate that the Sadar Hills ADC Executive Member has terribly failed to understand the spirit and intent of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971, according to a joint release issued by Sadar Hills ADC Vice-President Paojalet Touthang and Executive Members Bonthaolung Panmei, Lunthang Haokip and Bhumi Prasad on Monday.
The Autonomous District Councils are public/political institutions and the department concerned has to perform functions only after obtaining administrative approval of the Executive Committee, it insisted.
'We wonder how Seikholal Haokip could say that the ADCs are government institutions, and that administrations are carried out by the department concerned,' the release said and questioned does he meant that the Chief Executive Officer of the Council has exercised powers without obtaining the approval of the Executive Committee? .
According to his own statements, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for misusing crores of rupees from the Council funds, it alleged.
It asked the Executive Member to kindly refer to section 27A(3) in the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 which read as 'All Administrative functions of the District Council as may be specified shall vest in the Executive Committee' .
Therefore, the Chairman as an Ex-officio Chairman of the Executive Committee or any Member of the Executive Committee can exercise administrative powers only in those areas that have been entrusted by a resolution of the Executive Committee or by a resolution of the District Council unless it has been expressly provided by the District Councils Act & Rules, it added.
The State Government is highly appreciated for sanctioning Rs 1 Crore under the 13th Finance Commission for the construction of 100 water tanks for 100 Primary Schools, the release also said and wondered how the department concerned could allegedly arbitrarily select those 100 Primary Schools (including some bogus schools) without the approval or, without any approved guidelines, of the Executive Committee or the House of the District Council.
It said regarding opening of about 70 Anganwadi Centers, it is strongly denied that the matter is outside the scope of the District Council and requested the Executive Member to kindly refer to Para No-3 of Order No-21/1/2003-S(SW) dated 04/12/2010 issued by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur which reads as 'District Councils may recommend sites for Anganwadi Centres to be selected' .
'We would like to question why the Executive Member fails to clarify on alleged swindling of Rs 30 Lakh meant for construction of three community halls at Saikul block and another Rs 20 Lakh meant for construction of 2 MI Schemes under TA & Hills fund 2011-12,' the release added.