PRI body asks government to uphold court order
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 19 2023:
Terming the delay in holding the Panchayat election and the government's move to constitute administrative committees as a violation of the Panchayati Raj Act 1994 and deliberate attempt to wipe out rural local bodies, the Ad-hoc Committee of All Manipur Elected PRIs of 2017 has demanded the state government to uphold the court order on the functioning of the PRIs.
The committee convened a joint meeting of the elected representatives of 161 GPs and 60 ZPs at Kongpal Kshetri Leikai community hall, Imphal East on Tuesday.
Addressing the gathering, Committee chairman Ph Heramani said that the PRIs have been in a state of suspension as the government failed to process the conduct of the 6th General Panchayat Election.
The tenure of the previous term ended in October 2022.As per provisions of Manipur Panchayati Raj Act 1994, the elected representatives of the previous term should continue to hold their office if the government fails to conduct election for any reason, after the expiry of the previous term.
As the government failed to do the needful as per law, the Committee filed a petition at the High Court of Manipur and the court, on April 18 this year, directed the government to allow the elected representatives of the 5th term exercise their right until the election is held, he said.
Despite the court order, the Committee did not mount pressure on the government keeping in view of the present unrest situation in the state.
Unfortunately, the government completely ignored the court order and formed administrative committees.
The government decision was challenged in the court which dismissed the order for formation of administrative committees.
After the expiry of the committee, the government is yet again trying to form another committee, which is very unfortunate, he said while demanding the government to uphold the court order.
He also said that the committee will approach the court if the government goes ahead with the plan of administrative committees.
Heramani further said that the Central government did not release wages component while releasing MGNREGS fund for the state for the current financial year.
The state finance commission award has also lapsed above the already lapsed installments of 15th finance commission award, he added.
Speaking at the meeting, Hiyangthang ZP member Sarangthem Silasana charged the government of attempting to wipe out the PRIs in stark contrast to the government's own Go to Village mission.
There is no reason for having a minister for RD&PR if the government dilutes the PRIs, she said.
Thoubal ZP adhyaksha Hasina Begum, Imphal West ZP adhyaksha RK Taruni, Imphal East ZP up-adhyak-sha Ksh Tama, Imphal West up-adhyaksha L Boby, Committee advisor Kh Priyojit and Langthabal Ningombam GP pradhan N Ganga were also present at the meeting as dais members.