Loopholes in the extension of ILPS in Manipur: Former MLA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 13 2020: Former Secretary (Law) and former MLA of Keishamthong A/C L Ibomcha Singh has alleged that the Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019, extending Inner Line Permit in Manipur, contains serious legal flaws.

Speaking to media persons at his Keishamthong residence today, Ibomcha alleged that there are numerous loopholes in the said order and claimed that the Union Government seems to have wrongly exercised its powers in issuing such an order.

For matters where the President of the country has to exercise the legislative powers under the Indian Constitution, the Union Government should not have shown such casualness, he said.

Clarifying that he did not mean to tarnish the image of the President and the Union Government, he said that such loopholes are a result of dealing the matter in a hasty and casual manner without consulting and seeking legal advice from the appropriate legal experts.

He explained that even the Supreme Court, on April 19, 1994, observed that Article 372 (3) (a) of the Constitution makes its clear that the special power conferred on the President is transitory in nature and will not endure beyond three years from the commencement of the Constitution.

In view of the said fact, the President should not have exercised his power, the former MLA claimed, alleging that the present adaptation order for extension of ILP in Manipur is unconstitutional, void and has no force of law.

The only alternative for the Union Government is to introduce a Bill on ILP in the current session of the Parliament for validating the adaptation order by inserting a validation clause, he added.

Saying that the people want a strict and strong ILP system, he said that the people cannot remain silent spectators in this regard and instead need to raise their voice so as to ensure rectification of such mistakes.

Comment