Biren Singh raises ALARM over alleged alteration of Hill Areas Committee Rules

Imphal, June 25, 2025: In a strongly worded letter to the Governor of Manipur, Nongthombam Biren Singh, Member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly representing 2-Heingang AC, has called for immediate intervention into what he describes as a serious and potentially deliberate alteration in the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972.

According to Singh, a comparison between the official version of the Order published in the Gazette of India and the version published by the Manipur Legislative Assembly reveals a significant discrepancy. The original clause in the Gazette of India under Clause 9 of the Second Schedule clearly states: "The appointment of succession of Chiefs or Headman." However, the version published by the State Assembly alters this to "The appointment or succession of Chief or Headman."

Singh argues that this seemingly minor change — replacing "of" with "or" — constitutes a significant distortion with far-reaching 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," he said.

He warned that this change, whether intentional or inadvertent, has opened the door for a rapid and unchecked proliferation of new villages and appointments of new village leaders without customary legitimacy or legal clarity. Such a shift, he noted, has serious implications for land ownership, ethnic settlement patterns, and village recognition — areas already marked by growing complexity and contestation.

Singh has urged the Governor to initiate an independent inquiry to determine how and when this alteration was made and under whose authority. He also called for a comprehensive audit to assess how many villages have been declared and how many chiefs or headmen have been appointed under the 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 emphasised, while attaching relevant documents for comparison. He expressed full faith in the Governor's leadership and hoped the matter would be dealt with the seriousness it demands.

The letter was signed and dated by Biren Singh on June 25, 2025.

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