High Drama witnessed in KAAC over separate electoral roll issue

KAAC says “matter subjudice”, 25 organisations say CEM “running away”

Diphu, May 3: High drama was witnessed today at the KAAC Secretariat when the official discussion on the joint demands of the 25 organizations was abruptly aborted after the CEM declared that the Council though in agreement with most of the demands was unable to take any step further as the matter was subjudice. As the CEM walked out of the meeting the representatives were left wondering in the KAAC Conference Hall where the discussions took place. Later the organization leaders addressed the press outside the Secretariat and demanded the resignation of Tuliram Ronghang. The leaders then shouted slogans, laid on the ground and rolled down the road till  the Council gate, shouting, shrieking and some were seen weeping in exasperation and disgust. They later assembled at the Government Boys’ High School Field to take stock of the whole incident.

Apart from the CEM and his colleagues, the meeting was attended by the Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan and Superintending Police Dr. G.V.Siva Prasad. The meeting was held as per the assurance of the Chief executive Member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council  (KAAC) Tuliram Ronghang to the 25 organisations given earlier when the organizations had called for  Karbi Anglong Bandh.

As soon as the meeting had begun, on behalf of the Sixth Schedule Implementation Committee (SSIC), Adviser Jones Ingti Kathar briefed the meeting about the demands of the organizations that included enactment of a new “Council Act and Rule under Para-2 sub para-7 (a & b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India and to prepare a new electoral roll under para-20 of the Sixth Schedule.

The Rengma Naga Students Union (RNSU)President,  Phenpiga Rengma also addressed the gathering saying that they were asking for “our own rights which are guaranteed in the sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution framed for the welfare of the people of the Sixth Scheduled area”.

The Dimasa Students Union (DSU), President Dhiraj Difusa, also addressed the meeting to say that “Sixth Schedule is our right we have to get benefit from it”. Learders of various organistions voiced their opinion in the meeting.

Replying to the discussion, the Chief Executive Member Mr Tuliram Ronghang informed the gathering that though the KAAC was in agreement with most of the points raised by the leaders of the organizations, they were unable to proceed on the issue as the matter was subjudice. Reading from the letter of the KAAC Standing Counsel Mr Jayanta Chutiya, Advocate he said that,  Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No.9/2017 filed by Ratan Terang and ors. vs State of Assam and Ors and the petitioners have prayed for a direction to strike off the names of disqualified non-tribal voters who and whose ancestor were not permanent resident of Karbi Anglong  District on the qualified date of i.e 01-03-1950 from the voter list for the election of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and to direct the KAAC authority to supervise and control the election to the Election to the Autonomous Council instead of conducting the election by the state Election Commission, Assam. The Advocate had written that the above matter pertaining to the preparation of voter list was presently pending before the Division Bench of the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court and the whole matter was subjudice. As such in his opinion no decision may be taken by the authority of KAAC at this stage when the matter was pending  before the Division Bench of the Hon’ble High Court for final adjudication.

Mr. Ronghang also said that the Council could not disregard the Hon’ble High Court over the matter and would prefer to wait for the Hon’ble High Court’s order before proceeding on the issue. Mr Ronghang also said that it was themselves which filed the PIL which was now coming in the way of resolving the matter outside the Court room. At this Mr J.I Kathar replied if it was subjudice, then holding of election before the final adjudication would also be subjudice. After that perhaps sensing nothing substantial would come out of the discussion, the CEM and his colleagues rose to leave the meeting and Mr JI Kathar shouted that they were running away from the meeting as they were unable to face the tribal leaders.  

Later while taking stock at the Boys’ High School field speakers speaking in turns called for boycott of the election and would prevent any election campaign to take place in Karbi Anglong.