Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 15:
Thadou Students' Association (TSA) has announced a 24-hour bandh along the two National Highways passing through the State with effect from midnight of November 20 if the appropriate legal action against the officials who flouted the rules in appointing Konthoujam Mamta Devi as a Committee Officer in the Manipur Legislative Assembly is not taken up.
Announcing its decision while addressing a press conference at Damdei Christian College, Kanglatongbi this afternoon, general secretary of TSA Sadar Hills District Committee, Hemkhokai Singsit asserted that out of the existing five posts of Committee Officers, one is to be reserved for SC/ST.
But the appointment of Mamta, who was a Legislative Assistant on contract basis, to the only reserved post for ST/SC candidate was made without any prior notification and DPC through back door, Singsit alleged, adding that this is nothing but scuttling the rights of eligible ST/SC candidates and violation of the quota norm.
Informing that the Association had already lodged complaint to the Governor and the Chief Minister in this connection on October 21, Singsit further said that rued that the Government had not given any response despite having served another ultimatum to pull up the guilty officials within 10 days on November through the Governor, the Speaker and the Chief Secretary.
Demanding resignation of Assembly Speaker Dr Maniruddin Sheikh from his post, the student body also exerted pressure on the Government for taking up legal action against Secretary T Joute and Joint Secretary Megharaj for their alleged involvement in the fiasco as well as for respecting the reservation norms for SC/ST at the time of appointment in other Govt Departments.
The Association is not in favour of calling bandh in view of the inconveniences to be faced by the public, but has been compelled to take the decision as the Government has turned down request for talks to sort out the matter, Singsit clarified.
After the press conference, volunteers of the student body also set on fire the effigies of Speaker Maniruddin Sheikh, Secretary T Joute and Joint Secretary Megharaj at National Highway 39.