Manipur Legislative Council on the cards ?
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 28 2020:
The State Government will be taking up initiatives to create Manipur Legislative Council, stated Chief Minister N Biren on the floor of the State Assembly today.
Responding to a query raised by Sagolband Assembly Constituency MLA RK Imo in the course of discussion the Manipur Appropriation (No 2) Bill, N Biren said that the State Cabinet will soon discuss about creation of Manipur Legislative Council (MLC).
"As the Assembly had decided to form the Council (MLC), and reaffirmed the same twice, necessary documents will be procured from the Assembly to hold a Cabinet discussion on the matter," said N Biren expressing the need for such a legislative council which would represent a wider population.
As there are many small communities which couldn't elect representatives to the State Assembly, the Council should be made all inclusive and they (representatives of small communities) should be given a place in the Council, Biren said.
Appreciating MLA RK Imo for the call to form the Council, N Biren said the Government will take up necessary actions to create the MLC in the line of Assam.
Raising his query, RK Imo recalled that the move to create the Manipur Legislative Council was approved in 1989 under Article 169 of the Indian Constitution.
Creation of such a Council would ensure wider and more inclusive representation of the people.
Eminent personalities in different fields can be nominated to the Council which would benefit the State, he said.
Such an institution (MLC) would facilitate decision making process of the State legislature, RK Imo hinted mentioning the example of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Even as the CAB was passed by the Lok Sabha, it was not introduced in the Rajya Sabha following the volatile situation in the North-Eastern States over the Bill.
The Bill was later reintroduced and passed the Rajya Sabha test, he said pointing out that the Manipur Legislative Council would enable the legislatures to take a second look and re-examine Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
RK Imo also recalled that when former Chief Minister late Wahengbam Nipamacha was the Speaker, the State Assembly in 1996 had reaffirmed the resolution to create the MLC which was adopted during the time of late RK Joychandra as Chief Minister.
The same resolution was again reaffirmed in 2005 when TN Haokip was the Speaker, he added.