KOLKATA: Is the new Gorkha Territorial Administration poised for an expansion? So it seems if one goes by the number of petitions submitted to the nine-member committee led by former chief justice of the Calcutta high court Shyamal Kumar Sen.
There are around 700 petitions in favour of inclusion of the 396 mouzas of the Terai and Dooars, while 20 petitions are opposed to it. The status is crucial, given the Centre's assurance to the members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) members in Delhi on January 9 that elections to the GTA will be held soon.
The Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee has already called a Bangla bandh in protest on Monday.
Going by the volume of petitions, there are chances of an expansion, as four of the nine-member committee are from the GJM. However, there is a catch. The high-power committee has made amends to the procedural regulations under Section 20 (A) for delivery of justice. The new section says: "Parties which are also members of the committee and whose interests are likely to be involved in any dispute on the petitions or otherwise may make submission in that matter but shall not take part in deliberations and decision making." Another amendment vests the power in the chairman of the committee to recognize or dispose of the petition.
"The mouzas originally demanded by the GJM for inclusion at the initial stage, on the basis of which the tripartite agreement had been signed in July 2011 is unknown to us. I have asked for all the details from home secretary G D Gautama," Justice Sen said.
The Centre has already asked the state government to handle the sensitive issue properly because it feels that any delay on the part of the government can spark off fresh agitation in the Hills. The GTA agreement was signed by representatives of state, Centre and GJM on July 18. The GTA bill was passed in Bengal Assembly on September 2.
Justice Sen's committee will soon send a survey team to determine new areas for GTA by physical verification of each mouza to ascertain demands of the GJM. The delay in sending inspection teams was because of staff shortage, state officials said. Even committee secretary T K Bhaumick joined only in November.
"For the identification of additional areas the high power committee will take into consideration compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors to determine the land for transfer. The committee was asked to submit its suggestions within six months. But as its term will end in January, it is likely to be extended soon," an official said.
Left leaders Zia-Ul-Alam, Nirmal Das and Mahendra Ray said that adding parts of Terai and Dooars in GTA will create problem for the people of Jalpaiguri. They feared that the proposed addition of mouzas would incite sentiments in the plains. CPM's Jalpaiguri district secretary Manik Sanyal wanted the high-power committee to survey the gram panchayats, as even Bagrakot, Odlabari panchayats in Malbazar block adjoining Darjeeling do not have Nepali majority.
Mukunda Majumdar of Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee who submitted his objections to Justice Sen's committee said, "We are opposing inclusion of areas from Siliguri, Terai and Dooars. Many foreigners entered Bengal. We want that the Indo-Nepal treaty of 1950 should be considered while determining areas for GTA."
Larry Bose working president, Dooars Terrai Nagrik Mancha also opposed the transfer of land to GTA. "Interest of tribals will be affected," he said.
Dolen Ray of Amra Bangali said that they have already filed a writ petition in the high court against GTA and the high powered committee.
There are around 700 petitions in favour of inclusion of the 396 mouzas of the Terai and Dooars, while 20 petitions are opposed to it. The status is crucial, given the Centre's assurance to the members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) members in Delhi on January 9 that elections to the GTA will be held soon.
The Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasha Bachao Committee has already called a Bangla bandh in protest on Monday.
Going by the volume of petitions, there are chances of an expansion, as four of the nine-member committee are from the GJM. However, there is a catch. The high-power committee has made amends to the procedural regulations under Section 20 (A) for delivery of justice. The new section says: "Parties which are also members of the committee and whose interests are likely to be involved in any dispute on the petitions or otherwise may make submission in that matter but shall not take part in deliberations and decision making." Another amendment vests the power in the chairman of the committee to recognize or dispose of the petition.
"The mouzas originally demanded by the GJM for inclusion at the initial stage, on the basis of which the tripartite agreement had been signed in July 2011 is unknown to us. I have asked for all the details from home secretary G D Gautama," Justice Sen said.
The Centre has already asked the state government to handle the sensitive issue properly because it feels that any delay on the part of the government can spark off fresh agitation in the Hills. The GTA agreement was signed by representatives of state, Centre and GJM on July 18. The GTA bill was passed in Bengal Assembly on September 2.
Justice Sen's committee will soon send a survey team to determine new areas for GTA by physical verification of each mouza to ascertain demands of the GJM. The delay in sending inspection teams was because of staff shortage, state officials said. Even committee secretary T K Bhaumick joined only in November.
"For the identification of additional areas the high power committee will take into consideration compactness, contiguity, homogeneity, ground level situation and other relevant factors to determine the land for transfer. The committee was asked to submit its suggestions within six months. But as its term will end in January, it is likely to be extended soon," an official said.
Left leaders Zia-Ul-Alam, Nirmal Das and Mahendra Ray said that adding parts of Terai and Dooars in GTA will create problem for the people of Jalpaiguri. They feared that the proposed addition of mouzas would incite sentiments in the plains. CPM's Jalpaiguri district secretary Manik Sanyal wanted the high-power committee to survey the gram panchayats, as even Bagrakot, Odlabari panchayats in Malbazar block adjoining Darjeeling do not have Nepali majority.
Mukunda Majumdar of Bangla-O-Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee who submitted his objections to Justice Sen's committee said, "We are opposing inclusion of areas from Siliguri, Terai and Dooars. Many foreigners entered Bengal. We want that the Indo-Nepal treaty of 1950 should be considered while determining areas for GTA."
Larry Bose working president, Dooars Terrai Nagrik Mancha also opposed the transfer of land to GTA. "Interest of tribals will be affected," he said.
Dolen Ray of Amra Bangali said that they have already filed a writ petition in the high court against GTA and the high powered committee.
TOI
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