Manipur Kuki-Zo MLAs Writes to Governor for Separate Administration, Terms HAC Resolution for Ad-hoc ADC Committees ‘Unconstitutional’

Chinlunthang, MLA from Singngat said, “The history of this HAC and ADC elections is one of failures. This decision is a clear violation of the Act.”

Ten Kuki-Zo MLAs from Manipur have once again reiterated its demand for a Union Territory (UT) with legislature or separate administration for the Kuki-Zo areas in the state and sought the immediate intervention of Manipur Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya in the matter.

In a letter to the Governor the MLAs also rejected the recent resolution of the Hill Areas Committee to set up a 20-member ad-hoc committee till elections for the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) are held and termed it “unconstitutional”.

Justifying their demand for a separate administration, the MLAs in the letter by all of them said the resolution was adopted in the absence of half of the HAC members who are from a particular community and cannot visit the state because of the prevailing law and order situation in the state.

Therefore, they termed the resolution “unconstitutional, a mockery of democratic principles, arbitrary, divisive and biased” and said in the letter, “It is, in fact, such an atmosphere of political erraticism and bias that justify our demand for UT with legislature which we hereby reiterate with growing conviction. We urge your kindness to find favour with our political demand…Further, we seek your kind and prompt intervention so that the Constitution of India and the ADC Act be respected and upheld to the fullest, in public interest”.

As per the resolution, a committee of 20 members for each ADC will be set up, 18 members will be selected from among former ADC members or experts in local self governance, eminent persons and intellectuals and 2 would be government nominees of the district as a temporary arrangement till ADC polls are held.

Speaking to North East Live, Chinlunthang, MLA from Singngat said, “The history of this HAC and ADC elections is one of failures. This decision is a clear violation of the Act.”

Chinlunthang clarified that their primary concern is not the election itself but the undemocratic process of the resolution. “It’s not about whether the elections should be held or not; the main issue is the unconstitutional process of adopting this resolution. The Act doesn’t support such ad hoc selections.”

Asked about the recent Delhi meeting organized by the Home Ministry, Chinlunthang declined to comment. “I cannot speak on this matter individually. It needs to be discussed with all the Kuki-Zo MLAs. I prefer not to comment on it at this time.”

The letter comes over a week after the significant October 15 meeting in Delhi, where Manipur MLAs gathered under the initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). This meeting marked a critical first step by the MHA to address the ongoing ethnic tensions in the state.

Also Read: Manipur Cabinet Approves Heibok Ching as Reserved Forest

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