Reserved for ST
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 06, 2012:
Call it a rarest of the rare case or an administration goof up - a Ward in Jiribam Sub-Division, which has only three ST voters, has been reserved for ST woman by the State Election Commission for the coming Panchayat elections slated for September 13. Taken by surprise with the arrangement, the majority community of the Ward is set to lodge a complaint with SEC regarding the matter.
Speaking to reporters in a press conference organised by the people of the Ward, incumbent Ward Member Md Tutamiya said, Hilghat 18/1/7, Yairolpokpi East in Jiribam Sub-Division of Imphal East district has 108 voters, out of which only three are ST voters.
He added that the remaining voters are Muslim voters.
Mentioning the the Election Commission of India (ECI) guideline which says seat reservation for a particular community must be made only when the said community comprises 33 percent or more of the total voters of the Ward, Md Tutiyama said that the SEC has violated the said guideline in the case of Hilghat 18/1/7, Yairolpokpi East.
The Ward Member further claimed that out of these three ST voters, two are the actual voters of 18/3/8 Yairolpokpi West of Sonapur Gram Panchayat.
Saying that these two voters did not cast vote in the Ward in the last Assembly election, Md Tutamiya added that they also do not have their permanent houses at Hilghat 18/1/7, Yairolpokpi East.
He further alleged that the names of the duo were transfered to Hilghat 18/1/7, Yairolpokpi East from 18/3/8 Yairolpokpi West only after the seat was reserved for ST woman.
The Ward Member further said that no action has been initiated yet although complaints, in this regard, have been lodged to the concerned ADC and BDO.
On the other hand, it was found by this Correspondent that Bhomik Para of Borobekra Gram Panchayat, which does not have any ST voter has been reserved for ST.
ST seat reservations have also been made in other Wards as well which are mainly dominated by Meitei, Bishnupriya and Muslim community.