ATSUM seeks clarification on HAC induction
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN

Imphal, September 03 2021: In connection with the reported induction of eight new members (MLAs) in the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has written to the HAC chairman on Friday asking him to provide "stated position" of the Committee on the issue within 72 hours.

The tribal students' body said that the position of the respective members of the HAC may also be obtained along with it.

As per sources, Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker Yumnam Khemchand approved induction of MLAs of Keirao, Thangmeiband, Langthabal, Nambol, Oinam, Lilong, Wangkhem and Heirok as members of the HAC as mandated by the provisions of the Constitution of India, the Presidential Order, 1972 and the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1976.The elected representative of Lamlai AC presently vacant will also be member of the HAC as and when the vacant seat is filled up.

The total membership of the HAC will now be 29 with the addition of nine new members, the order said.

According to the sources, an order was issued on September 1 by Assembly secretary K Meghajit Singh mentioning that eight representations were received on August 23 from MLAs L Rameshwar (Keirao); Kh Joykisan (Thangmeiband); Karam Shyam (Langthabal); N Loken (Nambol); L Radhakishore (Oinam); Y Antas Khan (Lilong); K Meghachandra Wangkhem) and Th Radheshyam (Heirok) requesting induction as members of HAC of Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The representations requested their induction on grounds that as per the Order 3(l) of the Presidential Order issued as per the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 dated June 26, 1972 under the Article 371-C of the Constitution of India, the membership of the HAC will consist of all the members of the Assembly representing the assembly constituencies situated wholly or partly in the hill areas of Manipur, provided that the chief minister of the state and the speaker will not be members of the Committee, it stated.

The order continued that the representations noted that the hill areas of Manipur are denned in the First Schedule of the said Presidential Order as under Manipur North, Manipur East, Manipur West and Manipur South revenue districts along with Chandel, Chakpikarong and Tengnoupal revenue sub-divisions of the Manipur Central revenue district, while explaining that any reference to a revenue district or revenue sub-divisions in this schedule will be construed as reference to the areas comprised within that district or sub-division, as the case may be, on the day of April, 1972 .

The current boundaries of the parliamentary and assembly constituencies of the state are determined by the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1976, issued by the Election Commission of India under Part XV of the Constitution of India.

And, as per the Delimitation Order, presently many villages and areas falling within the definition of hill areas as defined in the First Schedule of the Presidential Order, 1972, are situated within the boundaries of constituencies represented by them, it added.

The order further conveyed that the speaker made a careful and thorough examination of the representations submitted by the MLAs and concluded that a total of 29 ACs of the Assembly are wholly or partly situated in hill areas of Manipur as defined in the Presidential Order.

The order said that based on relevant laws, orders and fact-situation, ACs of Keirao, Thangmeiband, Langthabal, Nambol, Oinam, Lilong, Wangkhem and Heirok, presently represented by the eight applicant MLAs and also Lamlai AC, comprise partly of hill areas.

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