ATSUM urges CM to defer proposed amendment in Manipur (Hill Area) District Council Act,1971
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, December 19 2017: All Tribal Student Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has urged Chief Minister, N Biren Singh to defer the “proposed amendment” in the Manipur (Hill Area) District Council Act, 1971 .

In a memorandum submitted on Monday to the Chief Minister, the apex tribal student body of Manipur said, "It is learnt from reliable sources that the Government of Manipur is taking up steps for making amendments to the Manipur (Hill Area) District Council Act, 1971 by way of insertion proposed amendments in different parts of the Act" .

According to ATSUM, one of the proposed amendments is "the resolution for removal of the Chairman of the Council cannot be moved within the first 18 months of appointment".

Giving voting rights to the nominated members of the District Council has been also one of the proposed amendments, according to ATSUM .

“It is also learnt that the said proposed amendments are likely to be introduced in the upcoming Assembly sessions by introducing the Manipur (Hill Area) District Council (Fourth Amendment) Bill 2017," mentioned the ATSUM memorandum to the Chief Minister .

In this regard, ATSUM said that “it is respectfully stated that the aforesaid proposed amendments deserved serious reconsideration before the aforesaid proposed amendments are introduced in the Assembly session for enactment for the reasons that the resolution for the removal of Chairman of the Council cannot be moved within the first 18 months” .

ATSUM then said that this "proposed amendment appears to be against the basic principle of a democratic institution".

According to ATSUM, democratic principle demands that when a person losses support of the majority, he/she cannot be allowed to hold the office.

However, the proposed amendment undermines the said democratic principle and thrives to promote individual interest and therefore, the same is undemocratic, the apex tribal student body said.

"Hence, this proposed amendment deserves rethinking and further deliberation amongst various stake holders is required before introducing a bill incorporating this particular proposed amendments", it added .

On giving voting right to the nominated members of the District Council, ATSUM said that it has “no comment” against this proposed amendment.

“However, certain condition should be made for allowing the nominated Members to vote needs a minute condition with the stakeholders,” ATSUM added .

"Before initiating steps for making further amendments to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, I would like to draw the kind attention of the Hon'ble Chairman, Hill Area Committee, to the fact that the Manipur Legislative Assembly had enacted the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (Amendment) Act, 2008, way back in the year 2008.However, no corresponding Rules have been farmed till date to enable effective implementation of the provisions of the said Amendment Act.

Hence, exercise for framing of corresponding Rules of the said Amendment Act should be taken up first before making any further amendment to the Act," ATSUM pointed out .

According to the apex tribal student body, since any amendment in the Act "shall have a far reaching impact to the interest of all the people inhabiting the hill areas of the state, we would like the Hill Area Committee, Manipur to take into confidence all the stakeholders of the tribal development and civil society organisations like by taking their view and opinion before introduction of any Bill for amendment of the Act" .

ATSUM then said that, "in view of the aforesaid premises, it is respectfully prayed to defer the introduction of the Bill for making further Amendment to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 till the next session of Assembly in the best interest of people of the hill areas of the state" .

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