Concerns Raised Over Manipulated Governance Rules in Manipur

Allegations of Rule Manipulation

On June 26, former Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, expressed serious concerns regarding a 'manipulated' version of governance rules for hill areas, which he claims has facilitated the establishment of new villages and the appointment of village chiefs without appropriate legal or traditional backing.

Singh argued that this alteration has led to a 'rapid and unchecked' proliferation of villages, many of which may not have previously existed.

In a letter addressed to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Singh pointed out a significant inconsistency between the original notification published in the Gazette of India and the version incorporated into the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) 1972.

He stated, 'There appears to be a serious and potentially deliberate alteration in the text of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, as published in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.'

Singh further claimed, 'The original order, enacted by the Parliament of India, was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary. However, a detailed comparison between the original gazette notification and the altered version from the state assembly reveals a crucial discrepancy that could have significant implications for governance in the hill areas of Manipur.'

To elaborate on the discrepancy, Singh noted that the Gazette of India notification includes the word 'of' in the clause regarding the appointment of chiefs or headmen, whereas the version published by the Manipur Assembly uses 'or' instead.

This 'distorted' clause, according to Singh, could lead to various administrative and political consequences.

'This seemingly minor linguistic alteration constitutes a significant distortion with profound administrative and political implications. By replacing 'of' with 'or', the provision's scope is expanded to potentially permit new appointments of chiefs or headmen, rather than simply governing traditional succession practices,' he wrote in his letter.

Singh urged the Governor to take prompt action to investigate the matter and called for an independent inquiry to determine how and when the wording in the assembly version was modified and by whom.

Numerous civil society organizations have called for the abolition of the chieftainship system in hill areas to eliminate the authority of village chiefs.

In 1967, a law was enacted to abolish hereditary chieftainship, which received presidential assent the same year. However, civil society groups assert that the Act has never been enforced.