Royal Council objects against keeping Umanglais under Govindajee Temple Board
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 01 2014 :
The Royal Council, Sana Konung and Sana Konung Legal Cell have termed as unfortunate the passage of an inordinate Bill by Manipur Assembly for amendment of the Govindajee Temple Act 1972 by making provision for keeping the Umanglais (sylvan deities) of Manipur under the purview of the Temple Board.
On Friday, the Royal Council, Sana Konung submitted a representation to the Governor, under the authorization of His Highness, the Maharaja of Manipur, objecting to the Bill.
In the representation, the Royal Council said the move of the state Government is an act of violation of the Indian Constitution.
A press meet was held at the Utra Shanglen of Sana Konung (Royal Palace) here during which L Lanchang Chenglei, chief councillor of the Royal Council, Asem Muhindro, secretary of the Sana Konung Legal Cell and P Tomcha, advocate, High Court of Manipur, said a ruling of the Gauhati High Court in 1996 informed that keeping Umanglais under the Govindajee Temple Board amounts to the violation of Article 26 of the Fundamental Rights.
They said it is really unfortunate that none of the MLAs had objected the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple (Third Amendment) Bill, 2014 which was passed in the just ended state assembly session.
The passing of the Bill through Manipur Legislative Assembly is an act against the Gauhati High Court decree, therefore the Bill cannot be implemented, they said.
In the representation to the Governor VK Duggal, the Royal Council, Sana Konung said despite the adoption of Hinduism, the descending kings of Manipur by customary tradition never ignored the Umanglais and its annual Haraoba (pleasing the God) ceremonies and also the rituals of Thagi Mahshils (Irat Thounis) of 12 months of the years which are the indigenous faith and cult and not related to Lord Govinda or Hinduism.