Zeliangrong bodies irked by Govt notification
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei

Tamenglong, July 24 2015 : Strongly reacting to the notification published in a local newspaper by Revenue Department, Government of Manipur and Sub-Divisional Officer, Nungba for acquisition of land for the purpose of widening and expansion of National Highway 37, the Zeliangrong bodies on Friday have expressed their strong displeasure.

According to a joint statement issued by Pamei Tingenlung, President All Zeliangrong Students' Union (AMN) and Titus Kamei, President Zeliangrong Youth Front (AMN) the notification mentioned names of persons who are not tribals like Hakim s/o Abdul of Nungba village at Serial No.25 and Shanti s/o (L) Somendro of Luangchum (Awangkhul) village at Serial No.91 as being among the land owners whose dwelling houses, properties, farms and lands are to be affected by the land acquisition for the said work.

The Zeliangrong bodies demanded a clarification and justification of the grounds for allotting land in the said villages and describing them as land owners in Zeliangrong tribal village.

Because the law is that non-tribals are not allowed own land in the tribal areas.

The law protects the tribal land.

"The intention of the said notification is to cause confusion among general public.

Therefore the Zeliangnrong Youth Front and All Zeliangnrong Students' Union take the matter very seriously.

Any attempt made by anybody in violation of this law , intentionally or inadvertently, it should be given up and rectified immediately in order to avoid legal complications", the Zeliangrong bodies warned.

They said that there is no amendment or repeal of the said MLR & LR Act, 1960 till today and therefore, there is no valid ground and legal authority for any government official to supersede the law which was enacted by the Parliament.

The Deputy Commissioner should strike off the names of these two individuals from the lists of land owners in accordance to the law and issue strong instructions or directives to all district subordinate officers to be cautious while dealing with issue pertaining to land and its resources of Zeliangrong in particular and tribals in general.

There is also a provision under the MLR & LR Act, 1960 which says "where the transfer is to a person who is not a member of such tribe, it is made with the previous permission in writing of the Deputy Commissioner, provided that the Deputy Commissioner shall not give such permission unless he has first secured the consent thereto of the District Council within whose jurisdiction the land lies" .

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