Ex-ADC members to approach SC on caretaker chairman issue
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, August 12 2023: The ex-ADC members of Ukhrul are all set to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Manipur high court ruling on Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC) caretaker chairman'appointment which they claimed as an "outcome of political interference" from the ruling BJP government in the state.

The decision came after the state high court ruling favoured a lone BJP ex-ADC member namely, Mark Luithing over the majority Naga People's Front (NPF) members.

Recently, former members of the UADC had expressed their vehement discontentment over the court order, dated March 27, 2023 granting permission to the lone BJP member as the caretaker chairman of the Ukhrul ADC.

"We have unanimously resolved to take the matter to the Supreme Court and we are resolute to seek justice and ensure a logical conclusion on the matter," said former Executive Member UADC Vs Paothing while briefing media persons in Ukhrul town on Saturday.

He reiterated that in the last elections, 24 members were elected and out of these, 22 were affiliated with the ruling National People's Front (NPF) while one each belonged to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and an independent candidate.

"The court ruling has left many questioning the legitimacy of the appointment which clearly violated the Rule 9 of the Manipur Hill Areas Act, 1972 and the implications it may have on democracy and the grassroots governance in the district," he added.

Paothing continued that there are good reasons why such a rul -ing is seen as an affront to the citizens of Ukhrul.

"According to the Rule 9, the former vice chairman is the natural choice to take over in the absence of the former chairman.

Accordingly, TA&H minister Letpao Haokip had recommended former vice chairman M Issac for the post.

But this has been grossly violated," he contended.

It may be recalled that former chairman Dr Yaronsho Ngalung resigned from the post on personal ground on June 6, 2022.Maintaining that allowing a single BJP member to be function as caretaker chairman is seen as a travesty of justice and an affront to the majority NPF, Paothing observed that the same undermines the democratic and constitutional procedure and also sets a dangerous precedent, one which could pave the way for any party to sway the appointment to their favour in future.

Attending the press briefing, former members HA Vareshang, Yangmi Shimray and Themreishang noted that the same court ruling has also devalued the mandate of the citizens of Ukhrul, as their collective voice no longer carries any weight in the appointment process.

They said that the ADC is not a political party office, but a democratic institution that is supposed to reflect the will of the people as fairly and accurately as possible and no political party should allowed to influence the prestigious institution.

The former members stated that former vice chairman M Issac filed a writ petition at the High Court on April 3, 2023 to quash the impugned order dated dated March 27, 2023 passed by the TA&H department and to allow him to function as caretaker chairman of UADC as mandated by the norms.

Meanwhile, the court ruling has also aroused indignation among public of the district, with the Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL) joining the chorus of voicing discontent over the court ruling.

Expressing his opposition to the court ruling, TNWL President SA Ramnganing said that allowing a single member to take the role of caretaker chairman while ignoring the majority NPF members is undemocratic, and it would be a humiliation to the Tangkhul community.

He said that the ruling has undermined the rights of the people in the district, and urged the authorities concerned to make necessary rectification of the appointment.

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