Supreme Court to Hear Manipur Panchayat Poll Case on March 4
Administrative Committees Are Unconstitutional, PRI Elections Must Be Held: MPCC Chief
Keisham Meghachandra Singh, President of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), has strongly criticized the prolonged delay in holding panchayat elections in Manipur, calling it a “murder of democracy” in the state’s villages and rural areas.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Meghachandra slammed the previous BJP-led government under former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh for failing to conduct elections for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) within the constitutionally mandated five-year period. He highlighted that Article 243E of the Indian Constitution, which mandates timely elections for local bodies, has been consistently violated.
“It has been more than 28 months since the completion of the previous term, yet fresh elections have not been conducted. This is a direct attack on democracy at the grassroots level,” Meghachandra stated.
The Congress leader also linked the delay to the financial distress faced by rural communities, pointing out that the failure to hold elections has blocked funds under the 15th Finance Commission from reaching villages. Instead, the previous government had appointed Administrative Committees, which, according to Meghachandra, were beyond the legal framework governing panchayats.
To push for justice, Meghachandra met senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal in New Delhi on Wednesday, urging him to expedite the case in the Supreme Court. He also extended his support to the legal team, including Manipur High Court senior counsel Shri Jotendro Singh and the petitioner challenging the delay in the apex court.
The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter on March 4, 2025, before a Division Bench in Court No. 3. Meghachandra expressed confidence in the judiciary, stating that the people of Manipur will continue to fight for their democratic rights.
“How long will the people of Manipur be denied their fundamental rights? How long will Article 243E remain violated? The people of our villages are now knocking on the doors of the Supreme Court, and we will not rest until justice is served,” he asserted.
The delay in PRI elections has sparked growing resentment among villagers, with political parties and civil society groups demanding immediate intervention. The upcoming Supreme Court hearing is expected to be a crucial moment in the fight for restoring democratic governance in Manipur’s rural areas.