ATSUM demands clarification from HAC Chairman
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 22 2022:
The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has asked the Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) to clarify for 'giving misleading' comments pertaining to Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 .
According to ATSUM, the Chairman of HAC, on August 21, 2022, 'deliberately' misled the people of the State pertaining to the ongoing movement of ATSUM and tribal people demanding introduction of the HAC recommended 'Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021' in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
In a statement, the tribal student body said that the movement/demand of ATSUM is all about extension of support to the recommendation of the legislators (HAC Members) and has no personal or vested interest in the movement.
The ATSUM also said that it supports the Bill recommended by the HAC on August 16, 2021 unanimously.
"It is unfortunate to learn that the Chairman of HAC misinterpreted the ongoing movement as incited by a group of vested interest individuals or organisations.
Rather, the ATSUM would like to ask the HAC to clarify his statement whether it is his own self interest or the resolution of the incumbent HAC Members", the ATSUM asked.
The ATSUM then said that, in India, "as the legislative supremacy prevails in all accounts and as empowered by the law", the HAC Members across all political parties including the BJP to which the incumbent HAc Chairman, unanimously recommended a landmark Bill called "the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021" on August 16, 2021 under the Chairmanship of Leishiyo Keishing to strengthen the Autonomous District Councils and ensure equity in development in Manipur.
How could the incumbent HAC Chairman contradict the decision of the chair which he is occupying?" the tribal student body further asked.
"It is worth reminding that after the unanimous recommendation of the ADC Bill 2021 on August 16, 2021 by the HAC, a number of HAC meetings were convened and the State Government was asked to convene a special Manipur Legislative Assembly session to introduce and pass the recommended ADC Bill 2021," it said.
According to the ATSUM, "the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Sixth Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2022 are handiworks of the executives to thwart the legislative procedures, whereas the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021 is a landmark Bill unanimously recommended under permissible legislative procedures by the HAC .
The legislature is always supreme over the executive in the legislation of law, ATSUM asserted.
It will not be wrong to say that the crux of the impasse today is that while the ATSUM is supporting the constitutionally mandated recommendation of the legislators, the incumbent Chairman of HAC is supporting the executives disowning his own constitutional obligations, the tribal student body added.
The statement then said that the ATSUM and the tribal people of the state are asking neither the patronage of anyone nor trying to snatch the rights of other communities but only asking for the introduction of the HAC recommended "the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill 2021" in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and passing of the same
into an Act.
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