CCSK recalls first sitting of elected Govt

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 18: The Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK) today commemorated the first sitting of the Legislative Assembly of independent Manipur.
The commemorative function held at GM Hall was graced by Kuki Organisation of Human Rights Trust chairman Dr T Lunkim, Wunghon village Khullakpa Ks Raihing, Manipur State Minorities Commission Secretary Abdul Hakim Shah, Rongmei La Phuam advisor  Panti Golmei and CCSK president Jeetendra Ningomba as presidium members.
Giving key-note address of the function, CCSK’s observation committee convenor Sukham Premjit said that elected representatives held the first sitting of Manipur Legislative Assembly at the then Manipur State Durbar Hall on October 18, 1948.
The representatives were elected through universal adult franchise under the Manipur Constitution Act 1947.
Manipur was an independent kingdom before it came under occupation of the British empire. With the lapse of British suzerainty, Manipur became an independent country on August 14, 1947 before the first sitting of the elected Manipur Legislative Assembly was held on October 18, 1948.
However, the days of Manipur as an independent country was cut short abruptly.
The then king of Manipur was called to Red Lands, Shillong and forced to sign the Manipur Merger Agreement under duress on September 29, 1949.
As the Manipur Merger Agreement came into effect from October 15, 1949, the democratically elected Manipur Government was also abolished, Premjit said.
Notably, before the British  empire left Manipur, the British Crown recognised Manipur as a country which enjoyed internal sovereignty, he asserted.
Section 8 of the Manipur Constitution Act 1947 clearly laid down the king’s  limited roles with regard to the elected Government.
As per Section 9 (b) and Section 26 of the Act, the king was only a Constitutional head and law making authority, Premjit continued.
As such, the validity of the Manipur Merger Agreement signed by the king of Manipur who was then only a Constitutional head is highly questionable, he said.
Nonetheless, it is very important for the present generation to know that Manipur was once an independent country and it had its own Constitution, he said.
The commemorative function is a platform to ponder over the existing socio-economic and political condition with reference to the history of Manipur, Premjit said.
Retired History, HoD, MU Prof N Joykumar, IGNTU Manipur Campus Assistant Professor (Political Science) Dr Homen Thangjam and NEHU research scholar (Law Department) L Malem Mangal spoke at the commemorative function as resource persons.