Imphal, September 22: Demand Committee on Creation of ADCs (DCCADCs) for Pherzawl, Kamjong, Noney and Tengnoupal has submitted a memorandum today to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, reminding the latter demanding to “constitute delimitation commission or sub-committee as per the law for the 10 (ten) Autonomous District Councils and conduct the ADCs elections after due completion of delimitation in the interest of the public and to safeguard the grass root level democracy in Manipur”.
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The memorandum of DCCADCs mentioned that on December 8, 2016, the Government of Manipur created seven new districts, five are hill districts and Kakching and Jiribam are two valley districts. Out of the five hill districts, an autonomous district council has existed for Kangpokpi since the inception of Autonomous District Council in 1972 in the name and style of Sadar Hills District Council. “As a continuing process, the Manipur State Cabinet on March 27, 2021 took the decision for the creation of autonomous district councils of newly created four hill districts of Kamjong, Noney, Tengnoupal and Pherzawl and directed that election should be held to these district councils along with others”, it said.
Subsequently, the High Court of Manipur on August 12, 2021 passed the order on the petition filed by the undersigned, seeking direction to the authorities to constitute a delimitation commission and for timely conduct of election, the DCCADCs pointed out.
As a follow up action to the continuing process of government of Manipur, the 6th Amendment to the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 was enacted by the Manipur Legislature and came into force on August 24, 2022, as the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (sixth Amendment) Act, 2022, it also said. The Act substituted ‘six” with “ten” for the number of autonomous districts and now there are tenth (10) ADCs, in Manipur Hills district, the memorandum further mentioned.
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According to the DCCADCs memorandum, the High Court of Manipur disposed of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for setting aside the order dated 27/8/2022 passed by the Chairman, Hill Areas Committee (HAC), Manipur Legislative Assembly. “The impugned notification is challenged for violation of Articles 14, 19 and 371C of the Constitution of India and also it should be issued under the name of the Governor that the delimitation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) has to be done under the supervision of the government, not by the Hill Areas Committee (HAC)”, it further demanded.
“Therefore, in the light of the above facts, your kind-self is humbly urged to constitute delimitation commission or sub-committee as per the law for the 10 (ten) Autonomous District Councils and conduct the ADCs elections after due completion of delimitation in the interest of the public and to safeguard the grass root level democracy in Manipur,” the memorandum added.
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The memorandum also said that “these constitutional provisions and directive of the Hon’ble High Court should not be left unattended”.
(Newmai News Network)