The advocate general of Manipur informed the Manipur High Court that the state cabinet had taken a decision to hold elections to the urban local bodies as well as the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) before the end of November, 2022. However, he stated that formal notifications are yet to be issued in this regard.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Ahanthem Bimol of the High Court of Manipur on April 13 notified the state of Manipur to issue a reply for not conducting the election of urban local bodies and for engaging 26 ‘caretaker chairpersons’ at municipal councils of 26 urban local bodies.
The HC issued the notice following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Sanoujam Shyamcharan Singh on April 11 with a prayer to direct authorities to conduct the election of 26 urban local bodies.
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In the PIL, the petitioner sought direction from the authorities concerned to conduct elections to the 26 Urban Local Bodies in Imphal West, Imphal East, Jiribam, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur Districts of Manipur and IMC as the terms of the elected bodies had expired. The petitioner pointed out that the state failed to initiate steps for holding fresh elections. The failure was due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state of Manipur, he said.
It may be mentioned that the Manipur State Cabinet decided to hold the election of urban local bodies and IMCs in September and October, 2022.
Similarly, in a separate case, the advocate general also informed the High Court of Manipur that the state cabinet had taken a decision to hold fresh elections to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) before the end of November, 2022. He would however state that formal notifications are yet to be issued in that regard.
The case was heard by Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice MV Muralidaran in the writ petition filed by five social activists hailing from Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Senapati, Noney and Chandel districts of Manipur, challenging the order issued by the additional chief secretary (TA and Hills), government of Manipur on May 17, 2021, appointing the existing chairmen of the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) as Caretaker Chairmen, as an interim measure till elections were held to such councils.
The failure on the part of the state in holding elections afresh for these councils after the expiry of the terms of the elected councils in June, 2020, was attributable to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state of Manipur.
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The division bench after hearing the submission from advocate general Manipur opined that it would suffice at this stage if the commitment of the state authorities is taken on record and they are permitted sufficient time to make good on the such commitment.
The state Cabinet decided to hold the election of ADCs in October, 2022.
