The legislative procedures laid down in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Manipur Legislative Assembly should not be overlooked while a Bill is being introduced in the Legislative Assembly, said the student body
TFM KANGPOKPI Representative
In connection with the news report relating to tabling of ADC Bill 2021 in the State Assembly and referring it to a Select Committee for modification thereafter, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) set the record straight to put things in the right perspective.
The report as claimed to be from a reliable source is unprecedented and undermines the constitutional provisions mandated by the Presidential Order of 20th June 1972, said the student body.
ATSUM said that the legislative procedures laid down in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Manipur Legislative Assembly should not be overlooked while a Bill is being introduced in the Legislative Assembly.
The HAC recommended “The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021 being a bill containing the provisions of the scheduled matters, referring to a Select Committee after introduction in the Assembly will tantamount to gross violation of the constitution of India, it added.
ATSUM maintained that with regard to any of the scheduled matter falling within the Second Schedule of the 1972 presidential proclamation, it is mandatory that in the introduction of any bill the introducing member will immediately after introduction refer it only to the Hill Areas Committee for further deliberation and only after the final vetting by the HAC will the bill be taken up for discussion by the house.
The student body cited that Paragraph 4 of the Fourth Schedule of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972 that says “Motion for introduction of Bills affecting the Hill Areas – When a Bill, other than a Money Bill, affecting the Hill Areas and containing mainly provisions dealing with any of the scheduled matters is introduced or on some subsequent occasion, the member-in-charge may make the following motion in regard to his Bill namely:- that it be referred to the Hill Areas Committee, Provided that no such motion as aforesaid shall be made by any member other than the member-in-charge except by way of amendment to the motion made by the member in-charge.
Therefore, the intention of state government to refer the HAC recommended “The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021” to a Select Committee after being introduced in the Assembly as reported in local media, is ultra vires which directly contradicts the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly and thereby breaking all legislative procedures, it said.