TYCM pitches for early conduct of pending ADC polls
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 08 2025: Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM) has urged the state government to process conduct of elections to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) at the earliest to restore grass-roots democracy and local self-government for the hill tribals of Manipur.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the TYCM pointed out that elections for the ADCs, mandated under Section 11 & 13 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971, were due in 2020 .

Now, four years have lapsed without any progress, signifying denial of democratic rights and political suppression of grass-roots local self-government in tribal areas.

This prolonged inaction appears to be an intentional effort to weaken and demolish the framework of local self-government, thereby suppressing constitutional tribal rights, it maintained.

Pointing out that non-existence of ADCs for the past four years has led to loss of development opportunities for the tribal population and the abandonment of numerous beneficial schemes, the TYCM said such losses cannot be easily recovered/compensated for by future generations.

Furthermore, the failure to conduct ADC elections constitutes suppression of the tribal communities in hill areas and violation of the Indian Constitution, the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, and the law of the land, it further said.

TYCM recalled that the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) had recommended to the government of Manipur the urgent need to conduct the long-overdue elections for the ADCs at the earliest opportunity.

In light of the cancellation of the caretaker chairmanship system, in compliance with the directive issued by Gauhati High Court, it was proposed that a temporary committee, consisting of 20 members for each ADC, be established until the elections were held.

This committee will comprise 18'members selected from former ADC representatives, local self-governance experts, and eminent persons, along with two nominees from the government.

It then contended that the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 does not provide for the formation of interim committees, and the proposed measure is not only legally unfounded but also contradicts the democratic principles upon which the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) are based.

In its order dated 15.03.2024 in WA.

No.353 of 2023, the Gauhati High Court clearly declared appointment of caretaker chairmanship as unconstitutional.

These temporary measures have the potential to create confusion and erode the trust of tribal communities in local self-government institutions.

"TYCM strongly objects to this resolution, which blatantly violates the provisions of The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971.The proposed measures are illogical and unconstitutional, causing confusion among tribal communities.

These actions attempt to eradicate and abolish the principles and spirit of the 1971 Act, which was established to ensure appropriate representation in local self-government.

The decision of the HAC misleads the tribal populace and invites unnecessary complications," the tribal body said.

Stating that it has already submitted memorandums to the chief minister, the Governor, and the HAC chairman, the TYCM general headquarters urged for "immediate attention and action on these pressing issues", while reiterating its demand for the timely conduct of ADC elections.

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