In Manipur, the state which was recently declared as the most improved state among the small states of India, the law of the land seems to have gone missing. Perhaps, ‘missing’ may not be the right term to use here but it would be better to say that, due to fear of unwanted consequences from the lawmakers as well as those who may become the law makers some days, the law enforcers remain as a silent spectators even though the laws are violated in front of them. Even the district administrators or any other government authority do not act to make the people follow the law of the land for reason best known to them.
Yes this is about the gross violation of IMC laws as well as the central government authority by some people who are preparing to contest in the upcoming state assembly election. It is known to each and every individual who passed the National high ways, that colourful flags with poles of various political parties are seen displayed at various places including the road median of Singjamei Assembly constituency. Everyone knows that the colourful flags displayed in the middle of the national Highways distracted the passerby. Having noticed such distraction as the potential of causing road accident, the Ministry of Road Transport and highways of the government of India had issued circulation on September 7 , 2016, to all the Chief Engineers of Public Works department of all states and Union territories and also to other stakeholders government department to ban advertisement hoardings on the National Highways.
On the other hand, it has also been observed in the last couple of days about supporters of intending candidates fighting with other supporters of intending candidates over the erection of flag poles or billboards of their respective political parties or intending candidates. Those in the government controlling the law and order situation of the state know that campaigning with the erection of flags at government places had caused various unwanted crimes. A perfect example is a scuffle that took place between NPP party supporters and the BJP party supporters at Singjamei Assembly constituency. Imphal Times also reported about the Madras High Court ruling against the use of government land without permission.
Leaving aside the law and order problem, the failure to pay fees to the IMC for using billboard of intending candidates at IMC jurisdiction has lost a huge amount of revenue that they should get from the government land users for advertising themselves.
As thing seems lawlessness in a country governed by laws, Imphal Times is anxious to know the whereabouts of the ‘Law of the Land’.