Senapati: The Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) has strongly opposed the Hill Areas Committee’s (HAC) recommendation to establish a 20-member nominated committee to oversee the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in the hills of Manipur until the next elections. The NPO labeled this recommendation as unconstitutional and undemocratic, criticizing it for bypassing the electoral process and infringing on the rights of the Hill Areas.
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This dispute stems from HAC’s Resolution No. 59/2024-(HAC) and an October 2024 memo, both issued after the Gauhati High Court invalidated the caretaker chairmanship system in the ADCs. While HAC proposed appointing former ADC members and local experts to manage the councils, the NPO condemned the proposal as an unjustifiable move to impose governance without holding elections.
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The organization called on the Governor of Manipur to reject this recommendation and ensure that ADC elections are held promptly. NPO also stressed the need for the full implementation of Article 371C to safeguard democratic principles governing the Hill Areas.
The NPO’s rejection highlighted a broader desire to protect local self-governance, emphasizing that decisions affecting the Hill Areas should be made through proper electoral mechanisms rather than undemocratic nominations, the release mentioned.
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