ATSUM sets record straight on ADC Bill
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kpi, July 20 2022: In connection with the news item published in some local dailies regarding the demand for tabling of ADC Bill 2021 in the state assembly and referring it to Select Committee for modification, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has set the record straight to put things in the right perspective.

According to ATSUM, the report as claimed to be from a reliable source was unprecedented and undermined the constitutional provisions mandated by the Presidential Order of June 20, 1972 .

It continued that the legislative procedures laid down in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Manipur Legislative Assembly should not be overlooked while a Bill is being introduced in the legislative assembly.

The HAC recommended 'The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021' being a Bill containing the provisions of the scheduled matters and referring it to a Select Committee after introduction in the assembly will tantamount to gross violation of the Constitution of India, it added.

With regard to any of the scheduled matter falling within the Second Schedule of the 1972 presidential proclamation, it is mandatory that in the introduction of any bill, the introducing member will immediately after introduction refer it only to the Hill Areas Committee for further deliberation and only after the final vetting by the HAC will the Bill be taken up for discussion by the house, ATSUM explained.

It then reproduced the Paragraph 4 of the Fourth Schedule of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 which says 'Motion for introduction of Bills affecting the Hill Areas - When a Bill, other than a Money Bill, affecting the Hill Areas and containing mainly provisions dealing with any of the scheduled matters is introduced or on some subsequent occasion, the member-in-charge may make the following motion in regard to his Bill namely: 'That it be referred to the Hill Areas Committee'.

Provided that no such motion as aforesaid shall be made by any member other than the member-in-charge except by way of amendment to the motion made by the member in-charge' .

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