Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly issued an order in this regard. Speaker’s order follows MLAs representations arguing that the assembly constituencies they are representing comprise partly of hill area and demanding that they be made members the HAC.
TFM News Service
Amid raging controversy over draft Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021, eight MLAs representing assembly segments which were earlier considered valley constituencies have been inducted as members of Hill Area Committee. An order has been issued by Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly in this regard on Wednesday.
As per the order signed by K. Meghajit Singh, Secretary Manipur Legislative Assembly, altogether eight representations — one each from (i) Lourembam Rameshwar Meetei, MLA, 6 – Keirao A/C; (ii) Khumukcham Joykisan Singh, MLA, 9- Thangmeiband A/C; (iii) Karam Shyam, MLA, 20- Langthabal A/C; (iv) Nameirakpam Loken Singh, MLA, 24 – Nambol A/C; (v) Laishram Radhakishore Singh, MLA, 25 – Oinam A/C; (vi) Y. Antas Khan, MLA, 30 -Lilong A/C; (vil) Keisham Meghachandra Singh, MLA, 32 – Wangkhem A/C; and (vill) Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, MLA, 33- HeirokA/C; have been submitted with a request for induction as members in the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 23, 2021.
They argued that the assembly constituencies they are representing comprise partly of hill area and they must be made members the HAC.
Giving the grounds for their request, the MLAs cited the powers conferred by the Article 371-C of the Constitution of India, the President of India issued the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, vide a notification of Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, dated 20″ June, 1972.
The MLAs argued that Order 3(1) of the said Presidential Order which says the membership of the Hill Areas Committee, Manipur Legislative Assembly shall consist of all the members of the Assembly representing the Assembly Constituencies situated wholly or partly in the Hill Areas of Manipur, provided that the Chief Minister of the State and the Speaker shall not be members of the Hill Areas Committee.
The MLAs further stated that the Hill Areas of Manipur are defined in the First Schedule of the said Presidential Order as under Manipur North, Manipur East, Meripur West and Manipur South revenue districts; and Chandel, Chakpikarong and Tengnoupal revenue sub-divisions of the Manipur Central revenue district.
They explained that any reference to a revenue district or revenue sub divisions in this schedule shall be construed as reference to the areas comprised within that district or sub-division, as the case may be, on the 1st day of April, 1972.
The MLLs further said the current boundaries of the Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies of the State are determined by the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1976; issued by the Election Commission of India under Part XV of the constitution of India.
“As per Delimitation Order quoted above presently many villages and areas falling within the definition of Hill areas as defined in the First Schedule of the Presidential Order, 1972, are situated within the boundaries of constituencies represented by them,” they stated.
The order said a careful and thorough examination of the representations submitted by the MLAs vis-a-vis the relevant provisions of the Constitution of India, the Presidential Order, 1972, the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1976, was made.
Conjoined reading of Article 371-C of the Constitution of India, Order issued by the President of India and also the Order issued by the Election Commission of India, in absence of any modification, supersession or annulment, it is crystal clear that a total of 29 (twenty nine) Assembly Constituencies of the Assembly are wholly or partly situated in Hill Areas of Manipur as defined in the Presidential Order, it said
The order further said Assembly Constituencies of (i) 6 – Keirao; (ii) 9- Thangmeiband; (ii) 20 -Langthabal; (iv) 24 – Nambol: (v) 25 – Oinam:; (vi) 30 – Lilong; (vil) 32 – Wangkhem; and (vill) 33 – Heirok, presently represented by the (eight) applicant MLAs and also (ix) 8 – Lamiai A/C, comprise partly of Hill Areas as defined by the Presidential Order, 1972.
As mandated by the provisions of the Constitution of India, relevant laws, Orders and fact-situation as above, the MLAs representing the 8 (eight) Assembly Constituencies viz (i) 6 – Keirao; (ii) 8 – Thangmeiband; (iii) 20 – Langthabal; (iv) 24 – Nambol; (v) 25 – Oinam; (vi) 30 – Lilong; (vil) 32 – Wangkhem; and (viii) 33 – Heirok, are hereby inducted as members of the Hill Areas Committee, Manipur Legislative Assembly with immediate effect, reads the order.
The elected representative of 8 – Lamlai A/C, (now vacant), will also be member of the Hill Areas Committee as and when the vacant seat is filed up. The total Membership of the Hill Areas Committee, shall now be 29 (twenty nine) with the addition of 9 (nine) new members, it added.
The order is significant as The Hill Areas Committee, Manipur Legislative Assembly, in its meeting held on August 16, 2021, unanimously adopted the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021. The committee had recommended tabling the bill in the recently concluded monsoon session to discuss it.
However, the state cabinet in an emergency meeting reportedly resolved not to table the Bill in the state assembly session. It has reportedly expressed concern over the contents of the new Bill and observed that it has provisions which will hurt the interest of other communities and affect the integrity of the state.