Ad-hoc Committee of All Manipur Elected PRIs of 2017 has called for the minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to step down on moral ground.
Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club on Thursday, Ad-hoc committee president Pheiroijam Heramani said that the term of Panchayat members for 2019 was completed in October 2023. However, the state government had not conducted the sixth Panchayat election in time due to some reasons. If the election is not conducted on time, there is a rule that former elected members should continue with their functions, according to Manipur Panchayati Raj Act 1994, he added.
Further, there is High Court of Manipur order passed on January 18, 2024 that directed to allow the elected representatives of Gram Panchayats to function through their respective posts and Zilla Parishads of six Districts, namely Bishnupur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Jiribam, Kakching and Thoubal till the election notification.
“It is made clear that since the State Election Commission has designated the officers as District Election Officers in respect of the aforesaid six Districts for the purpose of preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections for the General Panchayat Elections, 2023, the State Election Commission to complete the election process and hold the General Panchayat Elections, 2023 at an early date to avoid further litigation”, the HC has mentioned in the order.
On January 16, the state authorities concerned to Panchayati Raj issued notification of constituting the administrative committee for six months or till the notification of 6th general Panchayat election is issued by State Election Commission, Manipur.
A new administrative committee for each gram panchayat as interim arrangement and the administrative committee duty is to exercise all such powers and discharge all duties and functions of the Gram Panchayat concerned. It was approved by the state cabinet on December 15, 2023.
The HC order did not comply and tried to create an administrative committee to abolish Gram Panchayat, he said and appealed not to violate the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act.
“If the concerned minister is not taking attention to issues, and not looking after innocent people troubling to get benefit from Panchayat then the minister should step down on moral ground”, he added.
