The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) on Saturday urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to disannul the order issued by secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly vide Order No.5/11(2)/2021-LA(Secy) date September 1 with regards to induction of “nine MLAs from the valley districts” as member of Hill Area Committee Manipur.
In its representation submitted to the chief minister signed by its president Khaimang Chongloi and general secretary Shokholun Mate, KIM reiterated its belief in peaceful coexistence in the state, and recognised that mutual respect among the different communities of each other's political, constitutional and legal rights are the way forward.
“The induction of nine MLAs from the valley districts as members of Hill Area Committee (HAC) is undemocratic and will not stand the tests of constitutionality under Article 371C of the Constitution if the state government fails to consult the people living in the hills,” KIM stated.
It stated that the nine assembly constituencies notified by the speaker of the Assembly are not from the districts or sub-divisions notified as 'Hill Areas' in the provisions of Article 371(c). But, they are from the valley districts which are all outside the Hill Areas notified in the first schedule, it added.
It also stated that the inclusion of nine assembly constituencies in the HAC is nothing but an attempt to interfere with and encroach into the functioning of the Hill Areas Committee.
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“Such an ill-thought and misleading order issued by the secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly is an affront and assault on the people living in the Hill Areas with ill motives to continue and perpetuate the exploitation of the hill people and undermined the constitutional protections and safeguards given to the hill tribes under Article 371 (C) of the Indian Constitution, with their land ownership systems and their culture,” KIM alleged.
KIM further stated that any conversion of Land-use, particularly of Tribal lands, requires strict observance of procedures, particularly the clearance of the relevant District Council.
“All the land-use conversions have been rushed and proposed during the absence of ADC’s. It is also apparent that the whole strategy of the government is to circumvent this technical necessity by keeping the ADC under dissolution,” it added.
The KIM requested the chief minister to disannul the order issued by secretary Manipur legislative assembly.
