Feb 28, 2025: Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has taken up the case of Manipur’s delayed panchayat elections in the Supreme Court, with a crucial hearing scheduled for March 4, 2025.
MPCC President K. Meghachandra, in a social media post, expressed his strong support for the legal battle to restore democracy in the state’s rural areas.
Meghachandra, who met Sibal along with senior counsel Jotendro Singh and the petitioner in New Delhi, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring justice for Manipur’s villages.
He criticized the former Biren Singh-led government for failing to hold panchayat elections on time, violating Article 243E of the Constitution. The elections have been overdue by more than 28 months.
He further highlighted that due to the delay, financial assistance under the 15th Finance Commission, crucial for rural development, has not reached the villages.
Instead of holding elections, the previous government arbitrarily appointed Administrative Committees, which Meghachandra termed unconstitutional.
“This is the murder of democracy in our villages. The people of Manipur have been forced to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court to reclaim their rights,” he wrote.
With the Supreme Court set to hear the case, Meghachandra expressed hope that justice would be delivered, ensuring fresh elections and restoring democratic governance in Manipur’s rural areas.
