RAN BAHADUR Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The instant petition has been filed pro bono publico under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by the petitioner, who claims to be championing the cause of Gorkha citizens in the State of Manipur and is the President of the Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union, Kanglatongbi.

(2.) The grievance voiced in the petition is to the effect that four villages, namely, (i) Santolabari Gram Panchayat (ii) Toribari Gram Panchayat (iii) Koubru Leikha Gram Panchayat and (iv) Kala Pahar Gram Panchayat have been included under the administrative ambit and territorial jurisdiction of the Autonomous District Council and, correspondingly, excluded from the Panchayati Raj system which, according to the petitioner, is an illegal action that requires the intervention of this Court, for reasons elaborated in the petition.

(3.) In the above background, the petitioner has challenged the Gazette Notification dated 11-09-2009, including the above mentioned four Gram Panchayats within the ambit of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 (The District Councils Act for short).