Governor’s Rule imposed in Chakma Autonomous District Council for 6 months

Governor’s rule has been imposed in the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC). Mizoram governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Friday assumed all the powers and functions of the council and

Governor’s rule has been imposed in the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC). Mizoram governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Friday assumed all the powers and functions of the council and appointed Amol Srivastava, deputy commissioner (DC) of Lawngtlai district as the caretaker of CADC. The Council falls under Lawngtlai district.

Governor’s rule has been imposed after chief executive member (CEM) Buddha Lila Chakma resigned on November 11 and the resignation was accepted by the Governor on November 17.

Instability in the CADC government had begun a few months after the elections to the 20-member CADC held in April, 2018 witnessed a hung council and the BJP, which won five seats decided to form the government with arch rival Congress which had bagged seven seats, despite its NDA ally the MNF having eight MDCs. The post-poll alliance was forged despite strong disapproval from both Delhi and Aizawl.

Five governments in the CADC had been toppled since Shanti Jiban Chakma of the BJP was sworn-in as Chief Executive Member (CEM) on May 4, 2018 after being elected leader ofthe United Legislature Party (ULP), formed by the BJP and the Congress.

The prolonged political instability had prompted the Governor to propose dissolution of the current Council and place it under Governor’s rule earlier.

The deputy commissioner, on behalf of the governor, would exercise ‘functions or powers exercisable by the CADC with immediate effect for a period of six months until further order’, the notification issued by the secretary for district council and minority affairs department said.

Expressing displeasure at the function of the CADC and constant chaos in the Council, the Governor said, “this constant change of administration due to political maneuvering is extremely damaging for the welfare of the CADC and its people. And is certainly not what is intended by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which envisions effective administration of the tribal areas.”

Former CEM Rasik Mohan Chakma staked his claim to be the sixth CEM (third time during the current 10th CADC) after the resignation of B.L. Chakma.

The notification added that absence of recruitment rules in the CADC, which resulted in occurrence of a plethora of irregular activities, is a violation of the para 2(6)(h) of the Sixth Schedule, which states that there should be rules for appointment of staff of the district council.

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