Ukhrul, September 26: The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), Council Headquarters, submitted a memorandum to the Hon’ble Governor of Manipur on September 26, 2025, urging the issuance of an order stating “shall not extend to the hill areas of Manipur” in the notification dated 18th September, 2025, vide No. LDM-108/9/2025-REV-REVENUE, issued by the Land Resources Department, Government of Manipur.
As the custodian of the hill tribal peoples of Manipur, mandated by Article 371C of the Constitution of India, the Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), Council Headquarters, with the tribal peoples of Manipur, seek immediate action to protect the land and rights of the hill tribal communities of Manipur.
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The Land Resources Department, Government of Manipur, issued a notification on 18th September, 2025 under the subject “Procedure for Sale, Purchase, and Registration of Land in Manipur.” The said notification states: “The Governor of Manipur is pleased to notify the standardized procedure for the sale, purchase, and subsequent registration of land within the state, effective immediately. “The words “within the state” directly affect the hill tribal areas and are in total violation of the Presidential Order, 1972.
The Governor of Manipur is the responsible authority for ensuring the proper functioning of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) as mandated by Para 9 of the Presidential Order, 1972: Special responsibility of the Governor: The Governor shall have special responsibility for securing the proper functioning of the Hill Areas Committee in accordance with the provisions of this Order and shall, in the discharge of his special responsibility, act in his discretion.
The Governor of Manipur should exercise the special powers mandated under Article 371C of the Constitution of India to safeguard the interests of the hill tribal communities of Manipur.
The Special Provision of Article 371C of the Constitution of India, which came into effect on 15th February, 1972, and the subsequent order dated 20th June, 1972, issued by the then President V. V. Giri, were enacted to safeguard the life, land, and forests of the hill tribes of Manipur. It also mandates the constitution of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) within the Manipur Legislative Assembly, comprising members elected from the hill tribal areas of Manipur.
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The administration and formulation of policies concerning the hill tribal areas of Manipur are vested with the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), and all matters relating to the hill areas fall under its purview as mandated by the Presidential Order, 1972, under Article 371C of the Constitution of India. Without the consent or recommendation of the HAC, no decisions or orders affecting the hill areas of Manipur may be undertaken or implemented, except in matters relating to a Money Bill.
The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (MLR & LR) Act, 1960 is not applicable to the hill areas, as Section 1(2) of the Act states:”It extends to the whole of the Union Territory of Manipur except the hill areas thereof.”In the hill areas of Manipur, land is held under the Presidential Order, 1972, by the tribal traditional landholding system, mandated by the constitutional safeguards of Article 371C of the Constitution of India.
It is imperative to question on what grounds or under what provision the notification dated 18th September, 2025, issued by the Land Resources Department, Government of Manipur, was promulgated.
The tribal peoples of Manipur will not allow the implementation of the said impugned notification dated 18th September, 2025, in the hill tribal areas of Manipur.
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The tribal peoples of Manipur stand firm against the unconstitutional notification dated 18th September, 2025, until an order stating “shall not extend to the hill areas of Manipur” is issued on the notification dated 18th September, 2025, vide No. LDM-108/9/2025-REV-REVENUE, issued by the Land Resources Department, Government of Manipur.
(This is the press release of Tribal Youth Council Manipur issued on September 26, 2025)