SDSA rejects HAC resolution
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, October 23 2024: Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) has rejected the resolution of the Hill Areas Committee over Autonomous District Council.

In a release issued Wednesday, SDSA expressed shock and concern over recent developments regarding the governance of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).

On October 14, 2024, the HAC led by chairman Dinganglung Gangmei adopted Resolution No 59/2024-(HAC), which followed the cancellation of caretaker chairmanships for the ADCs as stated in Order No T501/1/2022 by the Government of Manipur.

The HAC recommended to the state government the establishment of temporary committees for each ADC, consisting of 20 members - 18 selected from former ADC members, local governance experts, and prominent intellectuals, along with 2 nominees from the Government of Manipur.

Such a resolution undermines the rights and provisions for hill areas outlined in Article 371C of the Indian Constitution.

The decisions made without consulting stakeholders represent a blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and betray their trust, the students' body said.

SDSA strongly disapproved such claims and recommendations, which lack legal standing and bypass the standard democratic processes, rendering them unconstitutional and arbitrary.

The association then said that it views the HAC's recommendation as a deliberate attempt by powerful entities to disenfranchise citizens from meaningful decision-making, violating democratic norms.

Such actions risk diminishing public participation and interest in governance, it urged the public and all responsible citizens to speak out for their rights and to unite in opposition to such arbitrary treatment in the future.

Given the gravity of the de velopment, SDSA has urged the Governor of Manipur to intervene and reject such baseless recommendations in order to uphold the Constitution and protect the interests of the hill people.

If this matter remains unresolved, the SDSA may resort to democratic forms of agitation in the near future, it cautioned.

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