IMPHAL, July 17: After an emergency sitting of Manipur Legislative Assembly convened on July 15 in the wake of public outcry resolved to withdraw the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 and replace it by another new one, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh convened a meeting with 12 legal experts of the State on preparation of a new bill acceptable to the people.
Sources informed the IFP that the legal experts were formally invited by the Chief Minister for the meeting which has been seen as an important development following the withdrawal of the controversial MRVT & MW Bill, 2015.
The marathon meeting that lasted for more than two hours was held at the Conference Hall of the CM`™s Office at Babupara at 4 pm.
The 12 legal experts are from All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA, High Court Bar Association Manipur (HCBAM) and Bar Council of Manipur (BCM).
AMBA was represented by its president advocate H Chandrajit Sharma; general secretary Supriya Devi; Khaidem Mani and S Lakhikanta Singh while the HCBAM was represented by its president advocate N Binoy; I Lalitkumar; N Jotindro and advocate Jotindro.
The BCM was represented by its chairman advocate N Ibotombi Singh; RK Nokulsana Singh; RS Reisang and L Shyamkishwar.
Apart from the CM, Deputy CM Gaikhangam; Minister of Law & Legislative Affair Thoudam Debendra Singh; Minister of Labour & Employment I Hemochandra Singh; Minister of Commerce & Industries Govindas Konthoujam and Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh were present at the meeting on behalf of the government.
The meeting discussed at length about preparation of a new bill for Inner Line Permit System implementation in the State within the provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India, sources informed.
In this regard, all the 12 legal experts gave their opinions.
The meeting also had a threadbare discussion on inclusion of certain terms in the proposed bill as desired by the government following the pressure from the public.
They opined that inclusion of certain terms in the bill body is permissible, according to the sources.
The meeting also discussed on defining the terms legitimately and how far the Constitution supports it, according to the sources.
The opinions gave by the 12 legal experts were not officially recorded by the government.
Further according to sources, the experts, pledged that they will be extending all possible helps to the government in drafting and checking the new bill from the legal view.
A team of government to be led by the CM may hold more rounds of talk with the legal experts on the issue, the reports added.
Mention may be made that following the withdrawal of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 on July 15, the government headed by the Chief Minister held a meeting with representatives of all political parties yesterday on drafting of a new bill to safeguard the indigenous population.