The demand to cancel allegedly irregular appointments in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council and strengthen its constitutional powers dominated a CPIM-backed tribal protest in Agartala on today.
Protesters called for fresh recruitment through a transparent process and urged the Centre to pass the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Key Takeaways:
- GMP, TYF and TSU demand cancellation of more than 250 alleged irregular ADC appointments.
- Protesters seek fresh recruitment for vacant posts through a transparent selection process.
- CPIM leader Jitendra Choudhury renews demand for passage of the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
CPIM-affiliated tribal organisations staged a mass sit-in in Agartala on Monday, demanding cancellation of alleged irregular appointments in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
The protesters also demanded fresh recruitment to all vacant ADC posts through a transparent and legally compliant selection process.
The Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP), Tribal Youth Federation (TYF) and Tribal Students Union (TSU) organised the protest at the foot of the Swami Vivekananda statue near Astabal Maidan.
The two key demands at the protest were cancellation of allegedly illegal ADC appointments and passage of the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Demand to cancel more than 250 appointments
CPIM state secretary and Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Choudhury addressed the gathering.
Choudhury alleged that more than 250 appointments had been made in the ADC during the past five years without advertisements, interviews or proper recruitment procedures.
He said such appointments should be cancelled if they were found to have violated established recruitment norms.
The CPIM leader referred to a Public Interest Litigation recently filed before the High Court.
According to Choudhury, the ADC acknowledged in its response to the PIL that more than 250 government or ADC jobs had been given without advertisements, interviews and other formal recruitment procedures.
Choudhury demanded a detailed investigation into the appointments.
He said the investigation should identify the officials and other persons responsible for the alleged irregularities.
He also demanded legal action against those found guilty.
Fresh recruitment through transparent process
The protesting organisations said cancellation of irregular appointments should be followed by a fresh recruitment process.
They demanded that all vacant ADC posts be filled through open advertisements and a transparent selection procedure.
The organisations argued that eligible candidates should receive equal opportunities to apply for government and ADC jobs.
They also demanded that recruitment should follow prescribed rules and selection criteria.
Choudhury said recruitment cannot be treated as a discretionary process.
He alleged that appointments without advertisements and formal selection had deprived qualified candidates of opportunities.
The CPIM leader called for corrective measures to restore transparency in ADC recruitment.
125th Amendment at centre of protest
The second major focus of the protest was the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
The GMP, TYF and TSU demanded that the Centre pass the Bill.
The organisations said stronger constitutional protection and greater empowerment of autonomous district councils were essential for tribal areas.
Choudhury also reiterated the demand for passage of the proposed amendment.
The issue has remained a significant demand among organisations seeking greater constitutional and administrative powers for autonomous councils in the Northeast.
The protesters argued that constitutional empowerment should accompany administrative reforms within the ADC.
Choudhury links recruitment with ADC empowerment
Choudhury said the recruitment controversy could not be viewed separately from the broader question of ADC governance.
He alleged that irregular appointments had weakened transparency within the autonomous council.
He demanded accountability in the recruitment process and stronger institutional safeguards.
The CPIM leader said the ADC should fill vacancies through a system that provides equal opportunity to eligible candidates.
He also demanded an investigation into alleged misuse of public resources.
Protesters seek action, not assurances
Choudhury criticised repeated assurances of strict action against corruption.
He alleged that similar assurances had been made during the past five years but had failed to produce adequate results.
He questioned whether effective action could be taken against alleged irregularities when political interests influenced the functioning of the ADC.
The CPIM leader also criticised the political relationship between the BJP and Tipra Motha Party.
However, the central focus of the protest remained recruitment in the ADC and constitutional empowerment.
Seven-point charter of demands
The three organisations placed a seven-point charter before the authorities.
The charter included cancellation of appointments allegedly made without following recruitment norms.
It also sought investigation into alleged irregularities and action against those responsible.
Another key demand was immediate recruitment against vacant posts through a fair and transparent process.
The organisations also demanded passage of the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
They said the amendment would strengthen the constitutional framework governing autonomous district councils.
The protesters maintained that transparent recruitment and stronger constitutional safeguards were necessary for effective administration of the ADC.
The Agartala protest has brought the issue of ADC recruitment back into the political spotlight.
The demand for cancellation of allegedly irregular appointments, followed by fresh recruitment, is now emerging as a major point of contention between the opposition and the ruling establishment.
At the same time, the renewed call for the 125th Constitutional Amendment has linked the recruitment controversy with the larger political demand for greater constitutional empowerment of the ADC.
