Imphal, January 25 2009: Following the move of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench to have passed an order show-causing the Government of Manipur on January 22 as to why elections to the six Autonomous District Councils in the hill areas could not be held in the past 19/20 years, the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has expressed hope that the action of the Court would mean a path for the grass-root level self governance.

Former ANSAM vice president and current president of Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) Ngachonmi Chamroy had filed a writ petition in the form of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench on December 19, 2008.Advocate R Daniel is the counsel for the petitioner.

The hearing of this case was held in the division court of Justice BD Agarwal and Justice Mutum Binoykumar on January 22 after which the double bench, Gauhati High Court had passed an order show-causing to the Government of Manipur to explain within two weeks time as to why elections to the Autonomous District Council in the hill areas could not be held for all these years i.e 19/20 years.

As per order of the Court, the State Government is supposed to give necessary response by February 4 to the High Court.

Meanwhile, informing Newmai News Network, the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has asked as to what had the State Government done during the last two decades when there has been the existence of Manipur District Council Act, 1971 and that the supersession period order of the government was only for six months.

The six Autonomous District Councils are Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Sardar Hills, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel.

The Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has further informed that the January 22 move of the Gauhati High Court will 'create a big room for the people to participate in self governance at the grass-root level.' The IDF then warned that in the event of the State Government failing to oblige to the order of the Gauhati High Court, the Front will fight tooth and nail to deliver goods by staging sternest forms of agitation in the State.

IDF claims that its area of operation covers the whole state of Manipur.

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