Andolankari Manch stages march to protest HC order on domicile

Activists of the two organisations converged at Gandhi Park in the city and marched towards the Raj Bhawan shouting anti-government slogans amid beating of drums.

Andolankari Manch president Jagmohan Singh Negi said the state government has decided to implement Nainital based Uttarakhand High Court's order issued in August this year that people living in Uttarakhand prior to its creation on November 9, 2000, will be considered domiciles of the state.

Claiming that the high court order goes against Article 5 of the Indian Constitution and several past Supreme Court rulings in this regard, Negi said the state government should have challenged the high court order on domicile in the apex court.

The demand of the Manch is that only those living in the state since January 26, 1950 when the Indian Constitution came into force, be considered the state's domiciles.

The Manch president said by staging a protest march, they have tried to raise the issue before the Governor and urged him to offer his valued guidance to the state government in the matter.

He said domicile is a highly sensitive issue and the state government's decision to implement the high court order in this regard has hurt the sentiments of more than one crore people of Uttarakhand.