Committee must examine Technical errors in the Manipur HADC (seventh amendment)Bill 2022 – Letpao Haokip

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by SPN Editor

Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip said that the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2022 have some technical errors and needs to be examined by the committee. The Manipur HADC (Seventh Amendment) Bill was then referred to the Hill Areas Committee after a motion by him.

Meanwhile, amid the protests spearheaded by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) against non-introduction of the Hill Areas Committee recommended ADC Bill, 2021, the house passed the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2022.The sixth amendment provided that the number of ADCs be raised to 10.

Veteran politician, former MP and former MLA BD Behring has appealed to the Governor not to give assent to and to reject three bills namely, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2022.

In his memorandum to the Governor, Behring said that the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Sixth Amendment) Bill 2022 is not totally a money bill. The two other bills indicated in the financial memorandum that there shall be no financial involvement from the consolidated fund of the state.

Therefore, under Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly and the Manipur (Hill Areas Committee) order 1972, all three bills should be referred to the Hill Areas Committee, he said.

He further pointed out that the tribal populace had endorsed the HAC recommended ADC Bill, 2021. However, contradicting the previous bill, the present government of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly tabled and introduced the Manipur HADC (Sixth and Seventh Amendment) Bills, Behring said.

The 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly has been adjourned sine die on Friday with the conclusion of its second session.

The session, which began from July 25 had 11 sittings, 110 starred questions, 4 starred questions withdrawn, 36 unstarred questions, one unstarred questions withdrawn, 12 papers laid, 6 calling attentions, one presentation and adoption of Committee Report, 16 government bills introduced and 14 government bills passed, one bill referred to Select Committee, one bill referred to Hill Areas Committee among others.

The House also passed the “The Manipur Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2022 (Bill No.12 of 2022)” and “The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2022 (Bill No. 15 of 2022)” on the last day of its full budget session.