Ex-ADC members slam court order on caretaker chairman
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, August 10 2023: Former members of Ukhrul Autonomous District Council (UADC) have come out strongly against a court order granting permission to a lone BJP ADC ex-member to function as caretaker chairman of the council.

The High Court of Manipur on August 8, 2023, granted the lone BJP ADC member, Mark Luithing, the permission to function as the caretaker chairman of ADC, Ukhrul much to the dismay of the ex-ADC members who had objected to the previous impugned order, dated March 27, 2023 issued by TA & Hills, Government of Manipur, allowing Luithing to occupy the same position.

Briefing media persons in Ukhrul town on Thursday, exADC members of Ukhrul ADC, namely Edmund Chiphang, Vs Paothing, Yangmi Shimray, Thanchipem Jagoi, Lawrence and Somimayar expressed their vehement discontent over the court order.

Putting forth their argument, they contended that the court order can have far-reaching implications on the development and betterment of the grassroots governance, as it violated the provision of the Rule 9 of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Act 1972.They said that the court order has flouted the Rule 9 which stipulates that former vice chairman M Issac should be allowed to take over in the absence of former chairman Dr Yaronsho Ngalung who resigned on personal ground on June 6, 2022.According to the former members, following the impunged order dated March 27, 2023, former vice chairman M Issac filed a writ petition at the High Court against the order.

Following this, the latest order came in favour of the lone BJP ex-member which is unconstitutional and illogical but a political appointment.

Questioning the motives behind the court order, the exADC members stated that ADC is a democratic institution and no one should be given political appointment on ground of political affiliation.

They further contended that discrimination against the tribals in this manner is at the root of the prevailing hill-valley disparity in the state.

Responding to the order's claim of lack of evidences to prove that M Isaac functioned as vice chairman of the council, the former members stated that Isaac was elected as the vice chairman on December 20, 2017.The ex-ADC members have further urged the centre to take note of the state government's claim of the ADCs being functional by creating caretaker chairmanship while delaying the elections to the ADCs.

They informed that in the last tenure of the UADC of 24 members, 22 were NPF, while one was BJP and the other independent.

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