Pass ADC Bill during monsoon session: ATSUM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 22 2022: All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has urged the State Government to table and pass the "Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021" in the ensuing Manipur Legislative Assembly session.

Speaking to media persons today at the ATSUM head office located at Adimjati Complex, Chingmeirong, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) president Shimri Raising who spoke on behalf of ATSUM decried that the hill people under the leadership of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) Chairman and Members have been struggling and fighting to get the Bill passed which was submitted to the Government by the HAC in 2021 .

He further questioned whether the executives will supersede the legislators while maintaining that the legislators are the absolute law makers whereas the executives are there to execute the laws enacted by the legislators.

"The Indian Constitution empowers the executive to make an Ordinance valid up to 6 months whereas Article 371 (C) of the same Constitution under Rule number 12 (A) of the President's order clearly states that it supersedes Article 166", Shimri Raising said.

Pointing out that Article 371 (C) of the Indian Constitution was designed specifically for the State of Manipur with regard to scheduled matters, he questioned whether the executives will supersede the legislators who are the law makers.

"If the State Government is functioning over and above the Constitution inspite of this provision incorporated in the Constitution of India, one would certainly like to ask whether the Government is legal or not.", the TKS president added.

He went on to point out that when a Bill other than a Money Bill, affecting the Hill areas and containing mainly provisions dealing with any of the scheduled matter is introduced or on some subsequent occasions, the Member in-charge may refer the Bill to the Hill Areas Committee provided that no such motion as aforementioned shall be made by any Member other than the Member in-charge, except by way of amendment to the motion made by the Member in-charge.

"Therefore, we have made a case study of Article 370 meant for Jammu and Kashmir.

We learnt that there has been a case of laws being misused by the people.

But in our case, that is Article 371 (c) which is specifically for the State of Manipur, we have not been allowed to exercise the power which is provided by the Constitution of India for more than 50 years", he added.

Saying that there are rules of procedures and conduct of business for the State Government to run the Legislative Assembly, Shimri Raising questioned whether the State Government is functioning as per the rules of procedure and conduct of business or following the 'jungle law' .

He also said that the State Government will not be a legal Government if it thinks that the provisions given in the Constitution are not applicable in the State.

Saying that the demand for tabling and passing the Bill is a continuing movement, Shimri Raising declared that ATSUM and its federating units including the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong will continue to fight for what is rightfully provided to them by the Constitution of India.

Comment