Mizoram Assembly to pass Sinlung Hills Council bill, 2018

Aizawl, May 17 (PTI): Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana today said a special session of the state Assembly would be convened in June to facilitate passage of the proposed Sinlung Hills Council bill, 2018. Formation of the proposed Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) is the result of the peace accord signed between the state government and the erstwhile underground Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) on April two last which led to the laying down of arms by over 100 Hmar militants. Lalzirliana said that approval of the state cabinet on the SHC bill, 2018 was expected in May as the file was being moved by the Law and Judicial Department. He said that the state government was also making preparations for appointment of 14 members for the interim administration of the Sinlung Hills Council in June as the current term of the Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC) was to expire on May 31. The term of the interim council would be six months after which a formal election would be conducted, he said, adding that the peace accord stipulated that the SHDC would be rechristened as SHC and would be given more political and financial autonomy.