Mizoram: CADC Chairman Kali Kumar Tongchangya disqualified following conviction

KAMALANAGAR-   Kali Kumar Tongchangya, the incumbent Chairman of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), has been disqualified from the membership of the Council with immediate effect. The disqualification follows his recent conviction on corruption charges in the Court of Special Judge, Prevention of Corruption Act, Mizoram, Aizawl, on 26th September, 2023.

In an official notification dated 27th September, 2023, issued by the District Council Secretariat of Chakma Autonomous District Council, the disqualification of Chairman Kali Kumar Tongchangya was announced after he was found guilty under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(c) & (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. As a result, he has been sentenced to undergo four years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 2 lakhs.

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This disqualification action is in accordance with Clause (i) of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 12 of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business etc) Rules, 2002, and as amended. This rule stipulates that a member shall be disqualified if convicted of any offense other than those referred to in clause (f) & (g) and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years.

Dangu Sundor Muni Chakma, the Deputy Chairman of the Chakma Autonomous District Council, has exercised the powers provided under Sub-rule (1) of Rule 17 of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business etc) Rules, 2002, and as amended, to issue the disqualification order.

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However, the notification states that, as per Sub-clause (j) of Sub-rule (1) of Rule 12 of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution and Conduct of Business etc.) Rules, 2002, and as amended, this disqualification will not take effect until three months have elapsed from the date of Kali Kumar Tongchangya’s conviction.

If, within that period, an appeal or application for revision is preferred from the conviction or the sentence, and an interim stay against such conviction or suspension of such sentence has been obtained by him from a competent appellate or divisional court, then the disqualification will be put on hold until a final decision is reached.