People’s right forum appealed to the HAC leaders not to mislead the public on the proposed Bill. “Is the proposed bill not a deliberate attempt to discredit the progress and achievements of the present BJP-led government of N Biren Singh in developing hill areas of Manipur,” the forum asked.
TFM Desk
The Movement for People’s Rights Forum, Manipur (MPRFM) on Friday strongly denounced the “ill-motivated campaign” by some political leaders and organisations regarding the contentious Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021 recommended by Hill Areas Committee (HAC).
MPRFM, in a release, appealed to the leaders of HAC not to mislead the public on the proposed Bill.
“Is the proposed bill not a deliberate attempt to discredit the progress and achievements of the present BJP-led government of N Biren Singh in developing hill areas of Manipur,” the forum asked.
This sustained misinformed campaign about the District Council Bill 2021 in hill areas by some politicians is a clear sign of frustration that they are unable to fight elections on the development agenda. We also appeal to the general public not to succumb to such kind of cheap political propaganda and remain united to defeat such evil machinations, stated the release by the forum’s convenor Gonmel Kuripou.
MPRFM also argued that the HAC is a constitutional body and its power and functions are defined by a presidential order and the state of Manipur cannot legislate on Article 371C and hence on the powers of HAC. It can be done by the Parliament alone, it added.
Questioning the proponents of the Bill for not informing these issues to the public, the forum also maintained that the Bill is an election gimmick to mislead the public for getting votes in the coming Manipur Legislative Assembly Election, 2022.
MPRFM further argued that the proposed Bill is less about devolution of powers to Autonomous District Councils (ADC) and more about granting powers, especially, executive powers to Hill Areas Committee.
“And we all know that granting more powers to the Hill Areas Committee can be done by the Parliament alone and not by the Manipur Legislative Assembly”.
The release also stated that HAC has its origin in Section 52 of The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. As per original Act of 1963, section 52 (1) says,
“There shall be a Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Manipur consisting of all the members of the Legislative Assembly who for the time being represent the constituencies situated in the Hill Areas of that territory”
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons appended to the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Bill, 1971, which was enacted as THE CONSTITUTION (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971
“Hill Areas of Manipur are predominantly inhabited by members of Scheduled Tribes To safeguard their interests special provisions were made in section 52 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 for a Committee of the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Manipur consisting of members from the Hill Areas. When the Union territory of Manipur becomes a State under the reorganisation scheme, the said section 52 will cease to be operative, it is proposed, as a part of the scheme of safeguards for the people of the Hill Areas, to continue this arrangement even after Manipur becomes a State. So, a specific provision is being made in the Constitution for the formation of such a Committee.”
This is how Art. 371C of the Indian Constitution came into being giving a constitutional status to the Hill Areas Committee, the forum said.
“Whether we like it or not, it has to be accepted that HAC is a standing committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly with constitutional protection. By going through the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, it is well understood that HAC is a recommending body just like any other standing committee of the Legislative Assembly. Interestingly the proposed bill, The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021 is about granting executive powers to HAC”.
The impression is that the proposed bill is about more powers to HAC than devolution of powers to ADCs and the more suitable name of the bill is “The Manipur (Hill Areas Committee) Bill, 2021”, the forum maintained.