No plan for holding Panchayat polls
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 16 2023:
Amidst the unresolved crisis in the state, the state cabinet has decided to defer the 6th General Panchayat Elections, opting instead to establish new administrative committees.
The move aims to address the pressing challenges and ensure functioning of rural local bodies albeit on a temporary basis.
A meeting of the state cabinet meeting held on Friday with chief minister N Biren in the chair explored the possibility of conducting the Panchayat election but ultimately resolved to postpone it in light of the ongoing crisis in the state.
The option of allowing elected representatives from the previous term to continue until the next election was considered but rejected.
Similarly, the proposal to retract the earlier cabinet decision on appointing new administrators for six Zila Pari-shads and administrative committees for Gram Panchayats faced rejection.
Notably, the earlier administrative committee has completed its six-month tenure, rendering any extension legally invalid.
As a result, the cabinet decided to form new administrative committees in accordance with established rules.
The initiative to constitute the earlier committee took shape on January 23 this year, when the joint secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) Department issued a notification, designating DCs concerned as administrators of Zila Parishads.
The rules governing the administrative committees were subsequently released on February 17 .
Reacting against the administrative committee, elected Zila Parishad and Gram Panchayat representatives sought legal help by filing a petition against the government's order at the High Court of Manipur.
In response, the High Court, on April 20, issued a directive permitting the elected representatives to continue in their roles until the new election is held.
However, no such measures were taken up as the present crisis broke out on May 3 .