Ukhrul, June 11: In a move that could resuscitate the prolonged delay in holding Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections in Manipur, the Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on June 10, 2025 has appointed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of six hill districts as interim Administrators of the respective ADCs.
The appointment of the six hill districts follows repeated postponements of the polls by successive state governments, leaving the ADCs functionally paralyzed for years.
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The Deputy Commissioners designated as Administrators for the respective ADCs are:
DC, Ukhrul District – Ukhrul ADC
DC, Senapati – Manipur North (Senapati) ADC
DC, Tamenglong – Tamenglong ADC
DC, Chandel District – Chandel ADC
DC, Churachandpur – Churachandpur ADC
DC, Kangpokpi – Sardar Hills ADC
This order, issued by the Tribal Affairs and Hills Department, follows the directive of the Hon’ble High Court of Manipur dated March 3, 2025, in relation to PIL No. 19 of 2024. The appointments are made under Section 47(2)(b) of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971.
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The ADC polls in Manipur have been postponed at least twice officially (mid‑2020 and late‑2020), with extended delays continuing for over two years owing to several factors such as COIVD-19, elective cycle expiry, and delays which include the ongoing postponements into 2024–2025, as repeatedly flagged by tribal forums and civil society.
It may be noted that the Ex-ADC Members’ Forum, Manipur (EAMFM) had even accused the “Manipur government of trying to suppress the political rights of the tribal people by withholding the elections to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in one pretext or the other”.