PMP & associated Bills : CM Sectt comes out with para-wise clarification
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 07 2015: In view of the deep-rooted apprehension expressed by a large section of people with violent protest agitation over the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legis-lative Assembly on August 31, the Chief Minister's Secretariat has given a detailed clarifi-cation.

A length press statement signed by Secretary to Chief Minister N Ashok Kumar said that the MLR and LR (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 was passed in order to regulate the purchase and sale of land to Non Manipur Persons under the MLR and LR Act existing within its own jurisdiction.

The public specially in the hill areas has been misinformed by a misunderstanding that MLR & LR Act is being enforced in the tribal areas.

These Bills do not affect the tribal areas of Manipur rather it is inten-ded to introduce a mechanism for purchase and sale of land by and to Non Manipur Persons under MLR & LR Act where it has been enforced.

The proposed insertion of the section 14A by the Amendment bill will deal with purchase of land by non-local people.

In the event of any compelling circumstances whereby if any Non Manipur person, firm or any other entity or any Govt.institution etc.

intends to purchase land in Manipur, he shall submit his application in the prescribed form to the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned and the Deputy Commissioner shall solicit recommendation from Local Body/Local Self Government and submit the application along with the report of such inquiry to the Government.

The State Government shall process the matter for the approval of the Cabinet.

This is just a regulatory mechanism to be implemented as and when the need arises.

Effigy of Chief Minister O Ibobi being burnt at Lamka in protest against the three Bills on Aug 31

All the insertions/amendments will take place only in the areas where the MLR and LR Act is already enforced and will in no case affect the tribal areas.

It is true that this was not referred to the Hill Areas Committee because the matter is not a Scheduled Matter as laid down in the Second Schedule to the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) order 1972 issued under Art 371-C and was not intended to be enforced in the Hill areas of Manipur.

Further the Protection of Manipur People Bill is a money bill, hence it was not required to refer to Hill Areas Committee.

It is appealed to all the people of Manipur specially in the hill areas to appreciate the provision thoroughly and not to be misled by propaganda/rumours which will lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties, to keep calm and work together for peaceful co-existence in the State.

The Government further appealed to all stakeholders that the State Government is open to suggestions from all sides for any deletion/amendment/insertion/modification of any provision in the Bills and ensure that the rights of all is protected.

Apprehensions of the people living in the hill areas and the agitation was against Section 2 (b) and (c) of the Bill which reads as follows:
1 'Manipur people' means persons of Manipur whose names are in the National Register of Citizens, 1951, Census Report 1951 and Village Directory of 1951 and their descendants who have contributed collective Social, cultural and economic life of Manipur.

'Non-Manipur persons' means a person who is not covered by Clause (b) of Section 2, and who intends to visit the State of Manipur with a Pass issued under sub-section (4) of section 4 .

It is clarified that Section 2 (b) is intended for outsiders/non Manipur persons who migrated into the State since 1951 and does not apply to the people of Manipur who were born and lived in the State.

This is clearly explained in Section 8 (a) and (b) of the Act which is reproduced below:
"Section 8(a) and Section 8(b) of the Act clearly states that the provisions of this Act shall not apply to the native people of the State of Manipur; and persons employed in connection with affairs of the Union Government, the State Government, Public Undertaking and persons employed by a local authority, high dignitaries, students of educational institutions situated in the State or such other persons as may be determined by the State Government from time to time.

It is also clarified that under Section 8(a) native people includes all sections/tribes living in Manipur (hills and valley).

And hence, the apprehension that the tribal people who were then residing but not registered in the Census of 1951 cannot live in Manipur is totally false and misleading.

Section 8(b) provides those who are exempted from the provisions of the Act which includes persons employed by the Union or State Government and other Public Undertakings, non Manipur students of educational institutions, etc as may be determined by the State Government from time to time.

The base year 1951 was arrived only for the purpose of registering Non-Manipur people who enter the State in order to prevent further influx of outsiders which is clearly defined in Section 4(1) of the Act.

Section 4(1) says at the commencement of this Act, every Non-Manipur person entering the State shall register himself with the registration authority designated under Sub-section (3) of this Section.

In case the above clarification is still found to be unsatisfactory, it is appealed that further amendment to the Act can be carried out if the details of the provisions which are considered affecting the people of the hill areas are clearly brought out.

Hence, there is no need for the native people of Manipur to panic, it asserted.

(To be contd on next issue) .