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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rules published by assembly on hill area governance manipulated, alleges ex-Manipur CM Biren Singh
Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh alleged that a 'manipulated' version of the rules on hill area governance, published by the Manipur Assembly, has created an environment for the establishment of new villages and appointment of village chiefs without proper legal or traditional authority. He claimed that this change has opened doors for a "rapid and unchecked" increase in the number of villages, many of which might not have existed in the past. In a letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday (June 25, 2025), Mr. Singh claimed that a key discrepancy exists between the original notification published in the Gazette of India and the version adopted in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) 1972. 'There appears to be a serious and potentially deliberate alteration in the text of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, as published in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business,' Mr. Singh alleged. He also claimed, 'The original order, passed by the Parliament of India, was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary. However, a careful comparison between the original gazette notification and the manipulated version published by the state assembly reveals a crucial discrepancy, potentially leading to significant implications for governance in Manipur's hill areas.' The former CM also alleged that the "manipulated version" in the Manipur assembly-published rules on governance in the hill areas has given rise to an "environment where new villages can be declared and new village chiefs or a headmen can be appointed without customary legitimacy or legal clarity" and has opened "the door for a rapid and unchecked proliferation of villages, many of which may not have existed historically or traditionally". Explaining the discrepancy, Mr. Singh claimed that the Gazette of India notification has the word "of" in the clause - the appointment of succession of chief or headman - while in the version published in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business by the Manipur Assembly, the same clause appears as 'the appointment or succession of chief or headman'. This "distorted" clause leads to administrative and political implications, Mr. Singh claimed. 'This seemingly minor linguistic alteration constitutes a significant distortion with profound administrative and political implications. By substituting the word 'of' with 'or', the scope of the provision is broadened to potentially allow new appointments of chiefs or headmen, rather than merely governing traditional succession practices,' he wrote in the letter. Mr. Singh asked the Governor to take immediate steps to look into the issue and also requested for an independent investigation to find out how and when the wording in the assembly version was altered and under whose authority. "It is equally important to conduct a comprehensive audit to ascertain how many villages have been declared after this adoption and how many new chiefs and headmen have been appointed under this modified provision," Mr. Singh said. Several civil society organisations have demanded the scrapping of the chieftainship system in the hill areas to end the rule of village chiefs. The State in 1967 had passed a law to abolish hereditary chieftainship, and the then President had also given assent to the bill the same year. However, the Act was never enforced, according to the civil society organisations.
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
How is President's Rule imposed?
The story so far: A delegation of 10 MLAs from the Manipur Assembly met the Governor of the State and pressed for the formation of a viable government in Manipur that has been under President's Rule since February 2025. What is President's Rule? Article 356 is invoked to impose President's Rule in a State after removing the State government. While there are duties cast on federal governments in the U.S. and Australia to protect the States, their constitutions do not have any provision for removing State governments. Under Article 356, the President (central government) may take over the governance of a State when it cannot be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The President can make such a proclamation based on a receipt of report from the Governor of a State or otherwise. The latter situation may arise under Article 365 due to failure of a State to comply with or give effect to any directions of the Union government. The proclamation of President's Rule must be approved by both Houses of Parliament within two months from the date of its issue by a simple majority. Once approved by Parliament, the President's Rule continues for six months, from the date of proclamation, unless revoked earlier. It can be extended for a further period of six months at a time by an approval of both the Houses of Parliament by a simple majority. The President's Rule cannot extend beyond a period of three years in total. What has been the history? Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during the Constituent Assembly debates wished that Article 356 would never be called into operation and that it would remain a dead letter. However, it has been a travesty that Article 356 was misused on several occasions, removing elected governments that enjoyed majority in the States, violating constitutional principles and federalism. Reasons varied from loss in Lok Sabha elections to deterioration of law and order. When it comes to the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly after imposition of President's Rule, there has been no uniformity in the approach. More than constitutional principles, it was political expediency that drove such decisions in the past. Various Governors have adopted different approaches in similar situations in regard to the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly. The advice of a Chief Minister, enjoying majority support in the Assembly, is normally binding on the Governor. However, where the Chief Minister had lost such support, some Governors have refused to dissolve the Legislative Assembly on his/her advice, while others in similar situations, accepted the advice, and dissolved the Assembly. The Assembly was dissolved in Kerala (1970) and in Punjab (1971) on the advice of the Chief Minister whose claim to majority support was doubtful. However, in more or less similar circumstances in Punjab (1967), Uttar Pradesh (1968), Madhya Pradesh (1969), and Orissa (1971), the Legislative Assembly was not dissolved immediately based on the outgoing Ministry's advice. Attempts were made to install alternative Ministries. What have the courts ruled? The Supreme Court and High Courts during the first four decades after Independence refrained from interfering in the decision of the Centre to impose President's Rule in States. It was only after a categorical judgment of the Supreme Court in the S. R. Bommai case (1994), that misuse of Article 356 has been restricted. The court in this judgment held that Article 356 should be imposed only in the event of a breakdown of constitutional machinery as distinguished from an ordinary breakdown of law and order. It also held that imposition of President's Rule is subject to judicial review and should not be misused for political reasons. It further ruled that till Parliament approves the imposition of President's Rule, the Legislative Assembly should not be dissolved, and can be only kept under suspended animation. The higher judiciary has been a watchdog, since the S. R. Bommai case, against the arbitrary use of Article 356. Notably in the case of Bihar (2005), Uttarakhand (2016) and Arunachal Pradesh (2016), the courts have struck down the wrongful imposition of President's Rule. When can it be revoked? If President's Rule is imposed because of the lack of a government with majority, then usually fresh elections are held. After elections, the President's Rule is revoked and a popularly elected government takes over the governance of the State. Manipur was placed under President's Rule in February 2025 due to the deteriorating security situation and consequent political developments in the State. The assembly, whose five-year term ends in March 2027, has been kept under suspended animation. Considering that more than 18 months are left before the assembly term expires, it would be prudent to install a government that enjoys the confidence of the assembly. More importantly, it should enjoy the confidence of different sections of society of the State. Rangarajan. R is a former IAS officer and author of 'Courseware on Polity Simplified'. He currently trains at Officers IAS Academy. Views expressed are personal.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Is Manipur ready for a ‘popular government' yet?
Manipur has been under President's rule since February 13, 2025. But this week, a group of 10 MLAs met the Governor and informed him that they would like to form a 'popular government' with the support of a total of 44 MLAs. The Manipur Assembly has a strength of 60. At the same time, the state is again in turmoil over an incident in Gwaltabi village where security forces allegedly asked for the state's name on a bus to be covered up. Angry protesters locked up central government offices, including the office of the Election Commission, and defaced government signboards as part of a state-wide agitation. What is behind the latest episode of civil unrest? What has been the impact of the President's Rule so far? And what are the chances of a 'popular' government being formed in the current scenario? Host: G Sampath Guest: Abhinay Lakshman from The Hindu's Delhi Bureau. Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
After huddle, 23 Manipur BJP MLAs ‘resolve' to form ‘popular' govt
Twenty-three BJP MLAs of Manipur held a meeting Friday, after which they issued a statement saying that they 'resolved to put aside personal ambitions' in the 'larger interest' of working towards the formation of a popular government in the state, which has been under President's rule since February 13 with the state Assembly being in suspended animation. The BJP has a total of 37 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, of whom seven are from the Kuki-Zo community and were not a part of the Friday meeting. While the signatories of its statement did not include former chief minister N Biren Singh or Speaker Th. Satyabrata Singh, they included party MLAs who had rebelled against Biren as well as those who had backed him till his resignation on February 9. Satyabrata Singh had been one of the major dissidents against Biren Singh. This meeting came two days after a group of 10 NDA MLAs met Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla in the Imphal Raj Bhavan on May 28, claiming that they have the support of 44 MLAs for the formation of a popular government in the state. 'Acknowledging the deep public desire to see the formation of a popular government, we discussed pathways to achieve this with unity and selflessness. We resolved to put aside personal ambitions in the larger interest of the state, its people, and the vision of the BJP and its alliance partners in Manipur,' said a statement issued after the meeting. It also stated, 'As elected representatives, we are united in our firm belief that a long-term solution to the crisis is both possible and necessary… we thoroughly examined mechanisms for inclusive dialogue involving representatives of all communities in Manipur. We strongly support the establishment of a neutral dialogue platform to facilitate constructive mediation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, aimed at building trust and consensus on critical issues.' It also stated that the idea of approaching the Governor or the BJP central leadership to appoint a 'neutral peace envoy or a panel of eminent persons, comprising voices from both within and outside Manipur' was proposed in the meeting. The statement also emphasised on the need for 'inter-community people-to-people dialogue at the grassroots level' and for the recovery of looted weapons 'both in the hills and valley.' Manipur has been roiled by a conflict between Meiteis and Kuki-Zos since May 3, 2023, which has killed over 250 people and left tens of thousands homeless.
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"44 MLAs Ready To Form Manipur Government": BJP MLA After Meeting Governor
In a big political development in Manipur, which is under President's Rule, BJP MLA and former minister Thokchom Radheshyam has said "all 44 MLAs" have agreed to form the government "as per the wishes of the people", but the final decision will be taken by the central leadership. Mr Radheshyam made the statement on Wednesday, after he and nine other MLAs met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. "All 44 MLAs have agreed to form a popular government as per the wishes of the people. MLAs are ready to form the government. We have conveyed this to the governor. We also discussed possible solutions for issues (plaguing the state). 10 MLAs visited the governor as representatives to explain our position... the final decision will be taken by the central leadership," the legislator from Heirok assembly constituency said. "The governor took note of what we said and assured us he will take whatever action is in the best interest of the people," he said. Manipur has been under President's Rule since February after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. Mr Singh had been under fire for his handling of the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which broke out in May 2023 and has claimed over 260 lives and left thousands displaced. The Manipur Assembly has a strength of 60, of which one seat is vacant. The BJP-led coalition consists of 44 MLAs, 37 of whom are from the party.
