Naharlagun, May 5: In a significant decision, the Deputy Commissioner of Papum Pare, Sachin Rana, IAS, has dismissed the complaint filed by Techi Necha, Authorized Representative cum Member Disciplinary Action Committee BJP, against 09 Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs) on the ground of defection. The case, registered as PP/JUD-0917/PR/2023, was heard under u/s 6(2) of the Arunachal Pradesh Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) Act 2003 and u/s 4 Arunachal Pradesh Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) (Amendment) Act, 2006.
The complaint was filed on 06.04.2023, praying for initiating disqualification proceedings against the ZPMs. The Deputy Commissioner, Papum Pare, referred the matter to his office, and notices were issued to the affected parties for a hearing. Both the complainant and respondent parties were represented by legal counsels, who made detailed submissions, including relevant case laws and legal interpretations of the sections of the Arunachal Pradesh Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) Act 2003 and Arunachal Pradesh Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) (Amendment) Act, 2006.
The complainant alleged that the merger process of the 09 ZPMs from BJP to PPA (People’s Party of Arunachal Pradesh) was not complete, as the desired number of members for the BJP ZPMs was 9.33, assuming the strength of BJP ZPMs was only 14 out of the total 16, and migration was only of 09 BJP ZPMs. However, the respondents claimed that the strength of BJP ZPMs in the Zilla Parishad Papum Pare was 16 out of 16, and therefore, the desired minimum number required for the merger with any new Political party such as the PPA was 11, which made the essential 2/3rd majority.
The Deputy Commissioner’s office found that the merger of 11 BJP ZPMs was in compliance with the provisions of the Arunachal Pradesh Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) Act 2003 and Arunachal Pradesh Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) (Amendment) Act, 2006, and it also conformed with the minimum 2/3rd requirement for successful merger. The complaint was, therefore, dismissed, and all the 09 ZPMs were declared qualified to continue their Zilla Parishad Members Offices.
The decision means that the present total strength of Papum Pare Zilla Parishad is 16, out of which 11 ZPMs are of PPA and 05 are of BJP. The decision is a significant relief for the ZPMs against whom the complaint was filed, and it will also have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of Papum Pare.
