Mizoram: RM Chakma gets show-cause notice over dual role

Aizawl:  Mizoram's main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator and incumbent Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) Rasik Mohan Chakma has been served a show-cause notice over his dual role as a legislator and member of the Chakma council, an official said on Sunday.

Assembly speaker Lalbiakzama served the show-cause notice to Chakma on March 22 following a complaint from a member of district council of the Chakma council, she said. 

In the show-cause notice, the speaker asked Chakma why he should continue as a member of both the state legislature and of Chakma council.

Lalbiakzama informed Chakma that he is liable to be disqualified under relevant sections of the existing Mizoram State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualification) (Amendment) Act, 2006.

Chakma was asked to submit his reply on or before April 15.

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The speaker also mentioned that the Mizoram State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualification) (Amendment) Act, 2006 has omitted article 4 of the principal act, which allowed a legislator to hold the office of CEM, Executive Member, Chairman and Vice Chairman of any autonomous district council a the same time. 

In January, Chakma council member Doymoy Daveng Chakma of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) had separately submitted a similar complaint to the state Governor and assembly speaker urging them to take action over Chakma's dual membership. 

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Doymoy had argued that Rasik Mohan Chakma can't hold the office of CEM of the Chakma council as long as he is a member of the state legislature as per the existing laws, including section 11 (1)of the CADC (CCB, etc) Rules, 2002.

At least 3 MDCs (Member of District Councils), including Rasik Mohan Chakma, have been elected to the 40-member Mizoram assembly in the state assembly polls held in November last year.

Not only Dr Lorrain Lalpekliana Chinzah of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and BJP's K. Hrahmo have tendered their resignation as members of Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) and Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) respectively, no one has submitted a complaint against them, Lalbiakzama said.

Meanwhile, Chakma claimed that he can't be disqualified under the said law as holding dual membership of both state legislature and district council does not imply an 'office of profit' as mentioned in article 191 of the constitution. 

He said that he will submit his reply before the deadline. 

The 60-year-old veteran Chakma politician has been the CEM of CADC since he successfully contested the council polls for the sixth time in May last year. 

He also contested the state assembly polls held in November last year and got elected from the Chakma-dominated Tuichawng seat on the MNF ticket.

In the past too, Chakma had held the dual posts of CEM and MLA between 2003 and 2005.  

Later, he resigned as a legislator to retain his CEM post after the Mizoram State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill was passed in 2006.