ATSUM rebuffs Govt's notification

Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, May 19: All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has condemned the State Government's order No. 7/1/2019- Hills ( ADC / ELECT) pt. dated 17th May 2021, appointing the "existing" Chairmen as care taker-Chairmen of the Autonomous District Councils ( ADCs).
The apex tribal student body of Manipur said in a statement on Wednesday that ADC is an institution set up under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act 1971 for local self-governance. It further said that appointing care taker Chairman on the recommendation of the State Executive Committee, Relief and Disaster Management Department, is an “insolent action” to trample upon the rights of the tribal people in Manipur “because as far as Autonomous District Councils are concerned, the State Government shall normally act on the recommendation of the Hill Areas Committee”. ATSUM added, “However, the State Government at its own convenience issued an order for appointing Ex-Chairmen of ADCs as the care taker- Chairmen of ADCs without seeking opinion/recommendation of HAC”, while adding, “It can be recalled that the Hill Areas Committee had recommended two times for timely conduct of ADCs election”.
ATSUM said that the term “existing Chairmen" is also misleading. It further said that the term of office of all incumbent members of Autonomous District Councils were vacated w.e.f November 30, 2021 by the State Cabinet on November 10, 2020 and subsequently, all the ADC members ceased to occupy office and their monthly remunerations were also stopped.
“Therefore, the use of the term existing Chairmen in the matter is doubtful and deceptive,” it added. The tribal student body said that the “habitual” act of the current dispensation to belittle Article 371C of Indian Constitution pertaining to the Autonomous District Councils tantamount to depriving the “tribal populace” of their basic Constitutional rights. The Hill Areas Committee (HAC) which is the Constitutional custodian of tribal interest in Manipur should come clean on this, it added.
ATSUM then recalled that the State Government and tribal student body had on April 7, 2021, signed an agreement that the State Government shall announce the election of the ADCs on or before May 5, 2021, since the term of the preceding ADCs had expired. It pointed out that on the expiry of the stipulated days, the State Government conveyed their inability to implement the agreement citing the present pandemic. “However, to the utter disbelief of the organisation, the Cabinet had consented to a naked violation of law by appointing ex-Chairmen of ADCs as the caretaker-Chairmen which nowhere in the ADC Act 1971 permitted,” it further pointed out. The tribal student body said that appointing care taker in such a situation is nothing less than a provocation. “It is a clear example of the Manipur Government's perfidy. The apathy and callousness of the State Government has become apparent by taking advantage of the present situation in connivance with Relief Department of the state. It is pathetic to say the least,” it added.
ATSUM reminded the State Government to rather explore ways and means for paving ways for "safe conduct of ADC elections" as and when the current COVID-19 situation improves in the State.