Tripura: Govt to approach Governor to exercise constitutional power over autonomous council

AGARTALA, MAY 13

The state council of ministers has decided to approach governor of Tripura to take over the administrative power once the term of present ADC council ends, Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath said. The development came in the wake of the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

“The state government doesn’t want any stagnation in the administrative activities of TTAADC after May 17 next. Keeping this in view, the cabinet today approved that the power of TTAADC will go to the Governor as per Article 16(2) Sixth Schedule of the Constitution,” Nath told the Media.

This is also worthy to be mentioned here that TTAADC was the last bastion of the Left parties after biting dust consecutively in the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. If the party lose power in the ADC, there would be no Left ruled body left in the state.

Addressing media, he said the Governor is likely to appoint an administrator to run the ADC affairs for a period of six months in consultation with the State Government.

“This appointment will have to be validated by the state assembly within six months and this can be renewed for a period of six more months by following the same procedure,” said Nath.

He said, “the tenure of present TTAADC will over on May 17 next. But, the conduct of ADC polls is not possible at this moment due to lockdown and curfew imposed following COVID19 situation. The election has been deferred for an indefinite period.”

Also read, Tripura: Teachers’ body points out lapses in onetime monetary package

Reacting on the issue CEM TTAADC Radhacharn Debbarma said, The state government can also extend the term of the ADC's elected council by a year and the decision may be ratified by the state assembly, but what they will decide to do is their matter; I would not make any comment on this".

TPCC Vice president, Tapas Dey, on the other hand, alleged that it was a ploy to control an autonomous institution through bureaucratic norms. “It is really unfortunate the government is trying to ruin a democratically elected institution using bureaucratic power. The government may have convene an all-party meeting to discuss the further course of action since all the opposition parties are stakeholders of the ADC. But, I personally feel they will not succeed to capture power as there is no base of the BJP party in the tribal pockets”, said the veteran Congress leader and ex-MLA.

However, IPFT, the junior partner in the BJP-IPFT government has welcomed the decision. IPFT General Secretary and incumbent Forest Minister Mevar Kumar Jamatia said, “We welcome the move and the Governor will soon take over the charge of the ADC. We have extended support to this decision in the cabinet also”.

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