24 orgs. demand KAAC to formulate rules for election

Our Correspondent
Diphu, March 1 (EMN): Around 24 social organisations took to the streets in Diphu on February 28 to pressure the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to formulate its own rules for conduct of elections.

The organisations along with Karbi Rong Asar Amei (KRAA) and Karbi traditional village heads demonstrated in front of Semson Sing Ingti Memorial Park, demanding KAAC to prepare its own rules.

The organisations also showed opposition to the KAAC proposal for encadrement of Class I and II officers of KAAC, rejection of Clause 2.3 of MoS agreement by the six armed organisations with State and Central government, opening up 10 seats open for all category in the 44 elected seats as mentioned in the agreement and to constitute Traditional Village Development Council (TVDC) in all scheduled tribes areas in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

Participating in the demonstration, chairman of Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS), Khorsing Teron said founding leaders like late Semson Sing Ingti struggled for re-organising the Karbis scattered in Assam for a separate district.

The present KAAC was constituted with the struggle of late Ingti and others under Karbi Adorbar. But now, the KAAC is losing its powers. One after another the powers have been surrendered back to the state government, he said.

One of the convenors, Litsong Rongphar said the organisations are working not for self benefit, but to safeguard political rights and privilege of the Scheduled Tribe communities.

“45 months have already passed since the Gauhati High Court directed the KAAC to frame its own rules, but KAAC is not doing it. The KAAC has surrendered its ability to frame rules,” Rongphar said.

The organisations submitted a memorandum to governor of Assam, Prof. Jagadish Mukhi through DC, Karbi Anglong.

The organisations filed a PIL in Gauhati High Court for framing of rules by KAAC under Paragraph 2 of the Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India and the court directed the KAAC to frame its own rules for conducting elections in exercise of its powers under paragraph 2 (7) of the Sixth Schedule of the constitution from July 13, 2018, but after the lapse of 42 months, KAAC authority had failed to frame its rules.

It also mentioned that empowering the State Election Commission to conduct KAAC elections is ‘unconstitutional’.