ADC Bill 2021 contradicts Article 371C: PAPPM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 18 2022: The People's Alliance for Peace and Progress, Manipur (PAPPM) has stated that the HAC recommended ADC Bill 2021 contradicts the interest of the State as it will facilitate the creation of a separate State within Manipur.

In a statement issued by its president M Bobby Meetei, PAPPM, nonetheless, extends solidarity to the demand to give more power and autonomy to the Autonomous District Councils.

Claiming that ATSUM, however, wants to balkanise Manipur through the ADC Bill 2021, PAPPM contended that there is no mention of separate scheme of administration for hill areas of Manipur in the Article 371C of the Constitution or the derivative Presidential order of 1972 .

PAPPM further claimed that the first line in the introduction of the proposed ADC Bill, 2021 is totally false and misleading as it reads "Article 371C of the Constitution of India read with the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee Order.

1972 provides for a separate scheme for the administration of the hill areas in the State of Manipur through Hill Areas Committee and District Councils".

It categorically asserted that there is no mention of separate scheme of administration for the hill areas of Manipur in the Article 371C of the Indian Constitution or the derivative Presidential Order of 1972.Maintaining that the objective of the proposed Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill, 2021 is to give more power to Hill Areas Committee to convert itself to a separate scheme of administration against the spirit of Article 371C which was inserted in 1971 to strengthen administration of hill areas, PAPPM continued that the Presidential order of 1972 clearly mentions that Hill Areas Committee in its functioning shall "promote unity between the people of the hill areas and other areas of the State.

"So, Chief Minister N Biren Singh is very much right to state that the HAC recommended ADC Bill 2021 is an ill-conceived bill with the intention of disintegrating Manipur," PAPPM opined.

Saying that they have been monitoring the politics of ATSUM for the last two years, PAPPM urged ATSUM to concentrate on welfare of students instead of indulging in the politics of 'hate and division' .

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