DIPHU, July 31 - Amidst the din and bustle generated by the NRC across the State, a weird political development is taking shape in Karbi Anglong autonomous district.
Recently, a civil case was filed against Madhurja Dhekial Phukan, an elected Member of Autonomous Council from Bokajan constituency by one Pranjan Kro in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Diphu, challenging his legality of contesting election in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council even after being a non-Sixth Scheduled person.
Similarly, one Chandra Teron filed a case against Mukut Mahanta, an elected Member of Autonomous Council from Deopani constituency.
On the other hand, one D Dera filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against Pawan Kumar elected as a Member of Autonomous Council from Kapali constituency in Guwahati High Court on comparable ground and challenging his legitimacy of contesting election in Karbi Anglong autonomous district even after being a non- Sixth Scheduled person.
It may be mentioned here that the MAC (Member of Autonomous Council) seats of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council are not reserved unlike the MLA or the MP seat and several non-Sixth Scheduled persons have been elected to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council since 1952 from communities like Assamese, tea tribe, Hindi-speaking, Bodo etc.
The entire issue is been fuelled by another logic, i.e., the demand of excluding the names of non-tribal people from the voters� list of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council who have settled in the district after 1952, by a conglomeration of 24-plus organisations.
The organisations pressed forward their demand last year just before election to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. They also demanded that the electoral list and several rules and acts of the council should be primed by the council authority and necessary amendment of the council�s constitution must be done by the council authority to accommodate their various stipulations.
Meanwhile, the Gauhati High Court while disposing off a PIL filed by one Roton Teron ( PIL No. 9/2017) has directed the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council to initiate all necessary steps to prepare the voters� list in accordance to Para 2 sub Para 7 of the council�s constitution.
In order to comply with the court�s order, the council had constituted a committee under the leadership of Dr Mansing Rongpi, MLA of Baithalangso with 15 members from a cross-section of the society. The committee will arrive at a decision as to who will be allowed to vote in the election of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. However, the decision of the committee will have to be endorsed by the executive committee of the council and subsequently passed in the general session of the council before sending it for the Governor�s mandatory assent.
The entire process, it may be mentioned, has drawn displeasure for not including members from various communities domiciled in this autonomous district.
