Now Reading: Former Manipur CM Flags ‘Discrepancy’ Between Gazette and Assembly Order, Seeks Governor’s Intervention
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Former Manipur CM Flags ‘Discrepancy’ Between Gazette and Assembly Order, Seeks Governor’s Intervention
Former Manipur CM Flags ‘Discrepancy’ Between Gazette and Assembly Order, Seeks Governor’s Intervention
Ukhrul, June 26: Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh has raised serious concerns over an alleged discrepancy between a notification published in the Gazette of India and the “manipulated” version of the rules on governance in Manipur’s hill areas, published by the state assembly.
In a letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday, the former chief minister alleged that the discrepancy between the original Gazette notification and the manipulated version in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) 1972 has significant implications for governance in the hill areas of the state.
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“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. The original order, passed by the Parliament of India, was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary. However, a careful comparison between the original Gazette notification and the manipulated version published by the State Assembly reveals a crucial discrepancy, potentially leading to significant implications for governance in Manipur’s hill areas,” Singh wrote in the letter.
Pointing out the discrepancy, the former CM said the Gazette of India notification has the word “of” in Clause 9 – The appointment of succession of Chiefs or Headman – while the “manipulated” version published in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business by the Manipur Assembly, has the word “or” in the same clause.
“Specifically, in the Second Schedule under Scheduled Matters, Clause 9 of the Gazette of India clearly states: “The appointment of succession of Chiefs or Headman.” However, in the version published in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business by the Manipur Legislative Assembly, the same clause appears as: “The appointment or succession of Chief or Headman,” Singh pointed out.
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The former CM also claimed that the discrepancy constitutes a significant distortion with profound administrative and political implications.
“This seemingly minor linguistic alteration constitutes a significant distortion with profound administrative and political implications. By substituting the word “of” with “or,” the scope of the provision is broadened to potentially allow new appointments of chiefs or headmen, rather than merely governing traditional succession practices,” Singh said in the letter.
The former CM also claimed that the distortion has given rise to an environment where new villages can be declared and new village chiefs or a headman can be appointed without customary legitimacy or legal clarity.
“This change, whether intentional or inadvertent, has given rise to an environment where new villages can be declared and new village chiefs or a headman can be appointed without customary legitimacy or legal clarity,” Singh said.
“It has in effect opened the door for a rapid and unchecked proliferation of villages, many of which may not have existed historically or traditionally. The consequences of such a shift are already being felt on the ground, where questions surrounding land ownership, ethnic settlement patterns, and village recognition are becoming increasingly complex and contested,” he added.
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The former CM sought the intervention of the governor to take immediate steps to look into the issue. He also sought for an independent inquiry to find out how and when this wording was altered and under whose authority.
An independent inquiry is needed to determine how and when this wording was altered and under whose authority. It is equally important to conduct a comprehensive audit to ascertain how many villages have been declared after this adoption and how many new chiefs and headmen have been appointed under this modified provision. This issue touches upon the very foundation of legal governance in the hill areas and must be addressed with transparency, urgency, and accountability,” Singh wrote in the letter.
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In 1967, the Manipur Hill Areas (Acquisition of Chiefs’ Rights) Act, 1967- a law meant to abolish hereditary chieftainship was passed. However, despite the assent given by the then President to the bill the same year, the Act was never implemented. Since the Act was never implemented, the chieftainship system continues to remain intact in the hill areas of Manipur.
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BJP MLA Paolianlal Haokip has brushed aside the claim as a “grammatical” error.
“Some grammatically challenged ‘leader’ is trying to incite discord over a printing error where ‘or’ happened to be printed as ‘of’,” wrote Paolienlal Haokip from Saikot constituency in Churachandpur District on X.
