Allow previously elected PRI representatives to function, appeals Ad-Hoc Committee
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 19 2023:
Demanding immediate compliance with the Manipur High Court order of April 18, 2023 directing State Government and other concerned authorities to allow elected representatives of the 5th General Panchayat Election 2023 to continue to function till the notification of the 6th General Panchayat Election is out, the Ad-Hoc Committee of All Manipur Elected PRIs (Panchayati Raj Institutions) of 2017 has cautioned that it will approach the Supreme Court otherwise.
The Ad-Hoc Committee made the statement during a protest organised by the Committee at Kongpal Kshetri Leikai NEYDO Ground Community Hall today.
Speaking on the occasion, Pheiroijam Heramani Singh, chairman, Ad-Hoc Committee stated that the protest is for the elected representatives of the 5th General Panchayat Election from 161 Gram Panchayats and 60 Zilla Parishads.
As the State Government has not processed the 6th General Panchayat Election yet, the activities to be taken up by the PRIs in the villages under their jurisdiction have come to a standstill, he said.
Stating that according to Section 22 of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act 1944, when the Government fails to conduct Panchayat elections, the elected representatives of the previous election should continue their office, he stressed that the protest is appealing for the same provision.
When they appraoched the Manipur High Court, it also ruled in their favour and directed for the continuation of office of the elected representatives of the 5th general panchayat election 2023, he shared.
The concerned authority have failed to comply with the HC order even though 8 months have passed, he rued.
Thus the Ad-Hoc Committee was formed to address the grievances of the Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishads in the rural areas of the State and appeal to the State machinery to comply with the Manipur High Court order.
Otherwise, the Committee will approach the Supreme Court to take the matter further, he maintained.
In addition, he pointed out the State Government's designs to form administrative committees to operate the Gram Panchayats and assign administrators for the Zilla Parishads.
Strongly condemning this move, he emphasized that this is in violation of the provisions of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act 1944 .
Today's protest was attended by Hasina Begum Adhyaksha Thoubal; RK Taruna Devi, Adhyaksha Imphal West; Ksh Tama, Up- Adhyaksha Imphal East; L Bobby Devi, Up- Adhyaksha Imphal West; Kh Priyojit Singh, advidor Ad-Hoc Committee and N Ganga Devi, Pradhan, Langthabal Ningombam GP among others.