The House assembled at 11.00 am of Friday, the 26th May 2006 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh in the Chair. 

MEMBERS PRESENT: 

            11 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee) and 45 Elected Members. 

QUESTIONS:  

         (a)    Hon’ble Minister (Family Welfare) made a reply to Starred Question No. 1003 asked by Shri T. Manga Vaiphei, MLA regarding the   construction of Thingkeu  PHSC building under RCH Project.

         (b)    Hon’ble Minister (Health) made a reply to Starred Question No. 1004 asked by  Shri Th. Tomba Singh, MLA regarding the steps for improving Kakching Community  Health Centre and Lilong   Haoreibi Mayai Leikai Community Health Centre.

         (c)    Hon’ble Minister Shri Th. Debendra Singh in the absence  of  Hon’ble Chief Minister  made a reply to Starred Question No. 1005   asked by Shri P. S. Henry Paotei, MLA  regarding the reservation of  seats to the Tribal/ Muslim women in Ima/ New Market  in Imphal,  Manipur. 

         (d)    Hon’ble Minister Shri Th. Debendra Singh in the absence  of      Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 1006  asked by Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the construction of       Imphal East District Headquarters. 

         (e)    Hon’ble Minister Shri Th. Debendra Singh in the absence  of Hon’ble Chief Minister made a reply to Starred Question No. 1007 asked by Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA regarding the terminal benefit to the bereaved family of an IAS Officer.  

                  The Hon’ble Speaker directed the mover to raise the matter under an appropriate motion for a more detailed discussion. 

ZERO HOUR: 

            During Zero Hour, Shri Ningthoujam Biren, MLA  read out a representation by the JAC of the All Manipur Municipal Councillors Association and All Manipur Nagar Panchayat Committee regarding their decision to start various agitation in protest agaist the failure of the government to implement decentralisation of power to the elected Councillors of municipal bodies and Nagar Panchayats and appealed to the government to consider their demands to  prevent such agitation.

            Shri M. Bhorot Singh, MLA drew the attention of the government to find out the reason for the closure of hair cutting saloons in Imphal and the closure of the Marawari Dharamasala for the past one year. 

            Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA drew the attention of the Works Minister to notify to the public the reassessment in valuation taken up by the PWD for giving compensation for buildings demolished during the widening of NH-39 at the earliest possible time. 

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA highlighted the various discrepancies in handling the case of Sub-Inspector Kumar who remain untraced till today. He also highlighted the case of some Manipuris who remain missing in Assam. He also raised the matter of some trucks carrying sericulture equipment being detained in Nagaland. He also drew the attention of the Chief Minister to the announcement of a cash award of Rs. 3.6 lakhs to the State Sub Junior Hockey team for winning the 11 Sub Junior Hockey Championship, by Shri Bijoy Koijam, MLA, which was yet to be given to the team. 

PRESENTATION OF COMMITTEE REPORT: 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Chief Minister in-charge presented the Sixteenth Report of the Business Advisory Committee, 2006 and also moved;- 

            “that this House agrees with the allocation of time proposed by the Committee”  

            The House agreed. 

CALLING ATTENTION: 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang and Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLAs called the attention of the Health and Finance Ministers on the non-functioning of the Hospitals and Government Offices due to the strike called by the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO and Medical Officers. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA moving the calling Attention Motion, highlighted the hardships faced by the patients, specially the poor people, due to the ongoing strike by the doctors demanding re-implementation of NPA in the state. He opined that their demand was a just one though certain regulations was needed. He urged the government to take up steps to end the ongoing strike by JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO that had completed 35 days which had paralysed several departments. 

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA co-mover of the motion suggested that an option of accepting NPA or not should be offered to the doctors. He further urged the government to end the ongoing strike by arriving at an amicable solution with the striking doctors. He also urged the government to settle the issue of closure of Pharmacy in and around Imphal. 

            Shri D.K. Korungthang, Minister (Health) replying to the Calling Attention Motion expressed regret over the culture of bandhs and strikes in the state. The government, he informed, had the intention of giving NPA to the doctors but the implementation was delayed due to the financial constraint of the state. He further appealed to the doctors on strike, through the House, to end the ongoing strike in the interest of the people. 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Chief Minister in-charge, expressed unhappiness at the hardships faced by the people due to the ongoing strike by the doctors. The government, he said, had never rejected all the demands of the JAC but had requested them to wait for some time for the implementation. The government, he said, had conceded to some of the earlier demands of the JAC but added that all their demands could not be conceded due to the financial condition of the state. He appealed to the JAC through the House to end the cease work strike in the interest of the state. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, Shri C. Doungel, MLAs sought further clarifications and Dr. S. Budhichandra Singh, MLA also made some observations. 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER: 

            The Hon’ble Speaker announced the leave of absence of Hon’ble Chief Minister and Shri Samuel Jendai, MLA.. 

(Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh adjourned the House at 1.15 p.m. till  2.15 p.m. of the day).

            (The afternoon session resumed at 2.30 p.m. with the Hon’ble Speaker, Dr. Md. Maniruddin Shaikh in the Chair). 

SHORT DURATION DISCUSSION: 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA raised a discussion on the appointment of 144 persons as work-charged employees in the Electricity Department and 2 persons on contract basis in Tribal Development Department. In 1975-76 the then government retrenched the 832 employees but the court directed to reinstate 515 work-charged employees and 371 employees had been reinstated and the 144 employees were left out, he enlightened the House and pointed out that the persons appointed recently were not the 144 left out employees. Although the appointment order had already been cancelled, the guilty officials must be penalised under the Manipur Public Servants’ Personal Liability Act, 2006, he urged and sought a detailed statement and documents thereof. He also asserted that the appointment of 2 persons on contract basis in tribal Development Department was violation of the ban on appointment presently in force in the state.  

            Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA participating in the discussion expressed concern over the violation of the ban on appointment. He expressed suspicion that some top ranking officials might be involved in the scam. He sought clarification and assurance for not repeating such acts in future from the Chief Minister in-charge. 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA participating in the discussion asked whether the Committee of Officers recommended the appointment or the Cabinet approved it. He also urged to penalise those who were involved in it. 

            Shri Francis Ngajokpa, Minister (Power) replying to the discussion said that in 1999 the Chief Engineer of the Power Department announced through local dailies for the 144 retrenched employees to appear personally along with relevant documents for personal verification but verification was not possible because there was no response then. The Government, on finding discrepancies in the list of employees cancelled the appointment order. 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA sought further clarification and asked why the government did not take up timely action. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang sought to make available all the relevant documents to the House and expressed concern over the inability of the government to take appropriate action. 

            Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA proposed to constitute a House Committee and to submit the report to the government within one month. 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Chief Minister in-charge replied that the government would take some time in examining the matter for taking up appropriate action. 

            Dr. M. Nara Singh, MLA suggested to settle the matter in the Speakers Chamber. 

            Hon’ble Speaker directed to discuss the matter in his Chamber at 1.00 p.m. of the next day and also to avail all the relevant documents. 

            Shri Phungzathang, Minister (Tribal Development) replying to the discussion, informed the House that the appointment of 2 persons on contract basis in his department had been made without his knowledge and that the appointments had been cancelled. The officer concerned was asked to explain the reason thereof.  

DISCUSSION ON A MATTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST:           

            Shri B.D. Behring and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLAs raised a discussion on the appointment on contract basis of Science, Arts and Hindi Graduate, Undergraduate and Matriculate teachers. 

            Shri B.D.Behring, MLA asked the Minister whether the appointment  of 1333 teachers on contract basis was made on merit basis and also sought clarification regarding the criteria and mode of selection. He pointed out some discrepancies like doubling of the name of the same person in different categories of post. He suggested that a House Committee be constituted to examine the matter. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA pointed out that the appointment of Graduate, Undergraduate and Matriculate Teachers on contract basis for a period of 85 days in a haphazard manner was unreasonable and uncalled for when the process for direct recruitment was underway and further enquired whether the post that were filled up were existing or newly created posts. Expressing doubt about the fairness of the selection process, he expressed his desire for verification of the same. He further enquired about the basis on which teachers for the valley were to be appointed.   

            Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA participating in the discussion enquired why there was a process for recruitment of teachers through a DPC after appointment of 1330 teachers on contract basis and therefore sought the policy of the policy of the department. Terming as serious the demand for studying the syllabus of a neighbouring state, he sought a clear cut stand of the Education Department on the issue.

            Shri P.S. Henry Paotei, MLA participating in the discussion pointed out that there was confusion as to whether the teachers appointed on contract basis were to appear again in the DPC to be conducted soon. He said that there were some irregularities in the selection process and suggested for rectifying such thing in the future. He also stressed the need for selecting qualified teaches for bringing about quality education. 

            Shri L. Nandakumar Singh, Minister (Education) replying to the discussion said that the appointment of teachers on contract basis for only 85 days was made after approval of the Cabinet as a stop-gap arrangement due to the exigency of the issue as appointments for more than 3 months would require the sponsorship of the employment exchange and added that recruitment on regular basis would be made through a DPC to be conducted by the BOSEM soon. He clarified that there was no irregularity in the selection process. He said that repetition of names in the merit list of different categories might be due to candidates applying for different posts and added that this would be rectified by retaining a name for only one post and giving the other posts to the next best candidate. Appointment for 40 nos of B.Sc (royal) teachers for the hills would be made on merit basis, he said. He added that around 500 teachers for the valley would also be appointed on contract basis based on their merit. 

            Shri B.D Behring, MLA wanted a copy each of the MOU signed between the Government and ATSUM and the merit list of the candidates to be made available to the House. 

INTRODUCTION OF BILL: 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Chief Minister in-charge moved for leave to introduce the Manipur Legislature (Removal of Disqualifications) Fourth Amendment Bill, 2006. 

                        The House granted leave and the Bill was introduced.

PRIVATE MEMBERS BUSINESS: 

  Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA moved the following resolution:  

            “That this august House resolves to develop the cremation ground of martyrs Yaiskullakpa and his son Sengoisana at Thoubal Athokpam for making it a place of sanctity by the Government of Manipur”. 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA moving the Private Members Resolution cited historical events leading to the Khongjom war wherein Yaiskulakpa and his son Sengoisana sacrificed their lives fighting against the British at Thoubal Athokpam. The cremation site of these two martyrs need to be preserved, protected and developed as was done in the case of other martyrs who sacrifice their lives, he said. He expressed his desire for protection of this site under the The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,1976. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA also moving the resolution said that this site need to be preserved and protected in respect of the martyrs who stood up against the mighty British Empire. 

            Shri P. Parijat Singh, Minister (Art & Culture) replying to the Private Members Resolution said that the above mentioned site had already been listed  under  The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. He also expressed the need for paying respect to the spirit of the martyrs and sought the cooperation of everyone in developing this site. 

            Chairman Dr. M. Nara said that the particular place had already been listed under The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act  and that it had been under construction. 

            He announced that in view of the spirit and unanimity of the House the resolution was passed. 

            The resolution was passed unanimously by the House.                       

            Hon’ble Chairman, Dr. M. Nara Singh  adjourned the House  at 6.03 p.m.  till 11.00 a.m of Monday, the 29th May, 2006.