ATRPF-M serves 48 hrs deadline to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 05 2018: Failing to get any positive response from the State Government or the Hill Area Committee (HAC) in connection with the order issued by the State Government on August 23 regarding the constitution of a Cabinet Sub-Committee in respect of Senapati, Churachandpur and Tamenglong, the All Tribal Rights' Protection Forum Manipur (ATRPF-M) has set a deadline of 48 hours before the HAC, the TA & Hills Minister and the State Government to come clear regarding the issue or else face the consequences.

Speaking to media persons at ATRPFM office at Nagaram today, the association president Joseph Roangmei said that the association has given sufficient time to the State Government to revoke the order but the State Government and the HAC have failed to address the grievances of the association till date.

Question the members of HAC regarding their functions and duties, he said that if they have no knowledge regarding what their functions and duties are, they should resign from their posts.

It is because of the HAC's sheer negligence that the Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted to look after the functioning of ADCs in respect of Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Senapati by violating all norms and Constitutional provisions, he alleged.

He also questioned Minister N Kayisii why the matter was, put up before the Cabinet when the matter was constitutionally required to be referred to the HAC.

The action of the Minister and the State Government has violated the Constitutional provisions and the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, he claimed.

Joseph explained that the crisis at Churachandpur is a matter within political parties and the parties, not the Cabinet, should resolve the problem themselves.

It may be mentioned that the Secretary (TA & Hills), Manipur issued an order on August 23, regarding the Cabinet's decision to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee to look into the functioning of Autonomous District Councils in respect of Senapati, Churachandpur and Tamenglong.

Calling the State Government's move as arbitrary, biased and unconstitutional, he explained that the HAC is present to look after the ADCs, and the Cabinet has no authority to interfere in functioning of ADCs in hill areas.

The ADC is an autonomous body which comes within the purview of the HAC and a Cabinet Sub-Committee is not a competent authority and as such the association strongly oppose the formation of the Sub-Committee, he stated claiming that taking due advantage of the crisis within the ADC members, the State Government has infringed on the powers and functions Of the HAC.

Claiming that the language used in the order is not for solving the crisis of the ADCs but to look after the functions of the ADCs which is a clear violation of Constitutional provisions, Joseph demanded the HAC and the Minister (TA & Hills) concerned and the State Government to provide a tangible answer within 48 hours or else face the consequences.

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