Wednesday, May 14, 2008

ADC ordinance promulgated after Governor’s assent

By : A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, May 13: The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (third amendment) Ordinance has been promulgated in the state after finally getting the assent of the Governor.

With the promulgation of the ordinance, the state government has started preparations for elections to the ADC. A Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow will discuss the finalization of the schedule for elections to the district council, an official source said Tuesday.

Apart from discussing the election schedule of the ADC, the Cabinet will also discuss the delimitation of the constituencies of the district council.

Other agendas to be discussed include raising of the 8th IRB sanctioned by the Union ministry of home affairs as a commando battalion and to review the issues lying ahead in the construction process of the Thoubal multipurpose project.

The draft ordinance got the assent of the state Governor yesterday, the source said.

Mention may be made that after a draft bill on the amendment of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act 1971 could not be passed by the Manipur legislative Assembly in its last session.

Afterwards, the state government in a move to pave the path for conduct of elections to the district councils which were held up for the last around two decades, decided to promulgate an ordinance.

A Cabinet meeting during April this month approved the draft ordinance prepared by the state law department but the Governor returned it seeking some modifications in the draft ordinance.

Later, the last Cabinet meeting held on May 8 once again discussed the redrafted ordinance and approved the same and put it up for the Governor’s assent again.

In can be recalled that the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 was enacted in the state for establishment of district councils in the hill areas by the Parliament when Manipur was a Union Territory.

In 1975, the same Act was amended to suit the times and afterwards the Manipur legislative Assembly enacted the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Act, 2000 which provided for repeal of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971.

But the Act was not brought into force due to the demands for enforcement of the Sixth Schedule in the hill areas of the state.

The Manipur legislative Assembly enacted the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (second amendment) Act, 2006 which repealed the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Councils Act, 2000.

Later, the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2008 was introduced in the state Assembly to repeal the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Councils Act, 2000. But it was later withdrawn.

The state government considering the need for enforcement of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 with necessary amendments and to expedite the establishment of the district councils in the hill areas of the state decided to promulgate an ordinance as the Assembly was not in session.

Satisfied with the circumstances which rendered necessary the taking of immediate action for constitution of the district councils, the Governor used his power given under the related clause of the Indian Constitution promulgated the ordinance, the source said.

The scheduled Cabinet meeting will also discuss issues concerning the Thoubal multipurpose project with special reference to the action taken report of the administrative department with regard to the rehabilitation resettlement plan for affected villages.

A Cabinet meeting held on May 6 last had advised the concerned department, the IFCD, to make an appeal to the affected villages for the immediate review of the rehabilitation resettlement plan for affected villages under the Thoubal multipurpose project.

The department was also asked to resume the works with full security in consultation with the state DGP immediately before the rainy season.

Source: Imphal Free Press

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