Itanagar
The Chakma – Hajong citizenship issue once again flaring up in Arunachal . Considering the important question of law pertaining to the granting citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong which was raised in the Special Leave Petition by All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and State government, the Supreme Court of India on 12 March 2018 has granted the Special Leave petition (SLP) against the judgment and order dated 19 March 2013 passed by Division Bench of Guwahati High Court in PIL No. 52 of 2010, informed AAPSU’s legal adviser Advocate Nabam Jollaw and Advocate Marto Kato.
Addressing the media person here at Arunachal Press Club (APC), Adv. Nabam Jollaw informed that election commission of India earlier given order for inclusion of the names of Chakma and Hajong refugees in the Electoral Roll of the state. Again Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by AAPSU assailing the legality and validity of the additional guidelines issued by the election commission of India for special summery revision of electoral rolls for inclusion the Chakma & Hajong in four ST Assembly constituencies namely 14 Doimukh, 46 Chowkham, 49 Bordumsa-Diyun and 50 Miao of Arunachal Pradesh.
Informing that AAPSU since its inception are fighting against the granting of citizenship to Chakma and Hajong, adv. Jollaw said that finally AAPSU’s SLP has been accepted now everything will be re-open in the supreme court. Adding that AAPSU has attended 22 times hearing at court for the greater interest of indigenous people of the state.
Stating that Chakma and Hajong’s name should be deleted from the electoral roll of the state, both advocate Lollaw and advocate Kato further informed that Chakma and Hajong had filed an PIL at Guwahati high court for inclusion/status in Panchayat election which would be curtailing the indigenous people’s right.
The said impugned judgment and order of the Guwahati High Court does not take the consideration of the provisions of Section – 16(1) (A) of the representation of People Act 1950 and other special provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1973 and other special laws of the state of Arunachal Pradesh, said adv. Jollaw. However he also strongly denied the granting of citizenship and inclusion of Chakma and Hajong in the electoral roll, who illegally entered into the state.
Stating the application of law cannot be assume unless and until the procedure envisaged by law is completed, adv. Jollaw said,“The Provision of the law has to be strictly followed and complied with the act provided to an individual,”
Exhorting the state government to come forward in support of AAPSU for larger interest of its people, AAPSU also appealed state government for deletion of those enrolled Chakma and Hajong from the electoral roll. And those engaged Chakma and Hajong in different field at different capacity to be disengage immediately, added AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai
Informing that in the month of January last AAPSU attended Joint High Power Committee at Delhi, AAPSU asked MHA why the second meeting have not been held, which was scheduled at Itanagar in the month of February.
