HC to give judgment in TMC vendor allotment case: Prasanta
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, August 28 2021: Following the discov ery of illegal allotment of the newly constructed vendor plots and shops in Thoubal market by the then councillors and executive officers of Thoubal Municipal Council (TMC) to their own families and some rich individuals without conveying the same to the government via the affidavit filed to the High Court of Manipur; petitioner Athokpam Prasanta has expressed belief that a judgment would soon be declared in the matter.

Speaking to newspersons at Thoubal Achouba on Saturday, Prasanta noted that the people of Thoubal are waiting for the public notification regarding proper allotment of the newly constructed assets of TMC, namely 81 women vendor plots in Thoubal Nupi Keithel, and 88 shop plots and 120 vendor plots near District Agricultural Office, Thoubal.

On August 28 last year, TMC executive officer H Pradeepkumar Singh issued notification through the media for interested people to avail forms for a lottery to be conducted for the 81 women vendor plots in Thoubal Nupi Keithel, from TMC office.

Thus, many went to the, TMC office but were not provided with the forms.

Another notification was issued on August 27 the same year stating that the application forms have been halted along with conduct of the lottery, leaving many people disheartened.

Thoubal Municipal Council WardMember's Welfare Association, Thoubal then raised suspicions of backdoor dealings by the EO and councillors regarding the allotment of TMC assets and appealed to the people, the department concerned and the state CSOs to look into the matter through the media on September 11.The market has been the main source of livelihood for many villages in and around Thoubal and as such, many had hoped to possess a card/license for the market, which was rendered useless with the unfolding events.

"It is unfortunate that the councillors considered the assets as their own personal property and proceeded to hand over the ownership to their near and dear ones and to people who could pay huge sum of money", he remarked, while questioning whether the poor have no right to possess the vendor card/license.

Subsequently, a 17-member applicant group filed a Writ Petition Case No 428 of 2021 to the High Court of Manipur and Caveat File was notified to 3 people sponsored by the councillors in connection with the allotment.

However, the Chief Justice issued an order to maintain status quo until further order during a hearing on June 6 this year with regard to an Impugned Order issued on September 22 and 23, 2020; and on November 18 the same year.

Show Cause notices were issued to 312 people including councillors, staff and allotees in compliance with the order, instructing them to appear be fore the Court by September 9.Amidst this, the Council submitted an affidavit claiming that the allotment was done as per the rules, while investors, self help groups and MLAs of Wangkhem, Lilong and Wangjing ACs made submission regarding the quota they received and the lotteries conducted.

Urging the MLAs to clarify to the public on the matter, Prasanta said that at present, the judgment of the court is all that is awaited.

He then urged allottees who bought the plots with huge sum of money to excuse the applicants, while further urging for support during the conduct of the allotment process as per the rules.

Comment