Sana Konung objects keeping Umanglais under Govindajee Temple Board
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 01 2014 :
The Royal Council of 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.
After submission of the representation, a press meet was also 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, pointed out that a ruling of the Gauhati High Court in 1996 had categorically stated that keeping Umanglais under the Govindajee Temple Board amounts to violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 26 of the Constitution of India.
They said it was really unfortunate that none of the MLAs had objected to 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 contended.
In the representation submitted to 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 (appeasing of 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.