Centre's decision on delimitation lauded
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 07 2021:
The Centre deferring delimitation in four North-East States including Manipur is a right step and the decision is welcomed, said social worker Sheikh Noorul Hassan.
Speaking to media persons at his residence at Kshetrigao Awang Leikai today, Hassan said delimitation is welcomed but it should be held based on a fresh and credible Census.
Hassan said he had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against Centre's earlier decision to hold delimitation in Manipur based on a "controversial" Census.
"The Centre had formed a Delimitation Commission with a tenure of one year to effect delimitation in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir.
It was against the Centre's previous decision to withhold delimitation in the North-East States till 2026," he said.
He further stated that the Government of India's Ministry of Law and Justice had issued a gazette notification on March 3 stating that the Delimitation Commission instituted on March 6, 2020 will not cover the State of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
The notification mentioned that the Commission will oversee the delimitation of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir only, he added.
The Centre must have taken the decision to defer the planned delimitation in Manipur after studying the intelligence report and the State Government's and political parties' reactions.
Opposing delimitation, four petitions were filed in case of Assam in the Supreme Court, and one petition in case of Nagaland, he said.