COPTAM urges for transfer of land records
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, August 22 2013: Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COTAM) has urged today for the transfering of all the land records of hill districts in Manipur, being maintained in the neighbouring valley districts, to their respective hill district deputy commissioners as per 1947/1971 district boundaries.

In a memorandum submitted to the chief minister today signed by COPTAM president Letpu Haokip and its general secretary Thangkam Lupheng, the Committee said there are numerous land record of Hill District in the valley district which needs to be transferred to their respective hills district headquarters as per ADC Act 1971 boundary.

COTAM however, appreciated the State Cabinet decision to transfer all the land records to their respective deputy commissioners, which is one of the demands so far raised by COPTAM.

"The decision implies that all the hill district land records maintained in the neighbouring valley districts should also be transferred to their respective hill district deputy commissioners," the memo said.

"However , there is no officer Order/Notification yet from the Revenue Department for transfer of hill district land records to their respective deputy commissioners except for Churachandpur district.

In respect of Churachandpur , the Commissioner (Revenue) government of Manipur has issued an Office Memorandum No.3/1/mics/2008-com (Rev)pt date Imphal the 24th April, 2013 to the Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur district and ADC, Jiribam to transfer all available land records of Churachandpur district to the Deputy Commissioner Churachandpur," COPTAM pointed out.

But COPTAM said it was shocked to learn that three SDOs of Bishnupur district have reported to the Deputy Commissioner, Bishnupur district that there is no land record of Churachandpur district within their respective jurisdictions.

At the same time , the COPTAM is also discontented to learn that without verifying the fact, the deputy commissioner of Bishnupur in line with the report of the three SDOs, has written to the Commissioner (Revenue) on May 13 , 2013 that there is no land records of Churachandpur district to transfer from Bishnupur district to Churachandpur district.

"If this is the case in all the hill districts, many parts of hill districts are supposed to merge into valley districts illicitly.

This problem poses direct threat to our district boundaries as well as to our traditional institutions like those of chieftainship and other constitutionally provided right privileges for the tribals," the COPTAM memorandum expressed.

The fact that some pockets of the hill areas of Manipur are 'surveyed land' and their land records being maintained in the neighbouring valley districts is never a valid argument for transferring the said villages or areas or lands to valley districts or converted them into a Revenue district , COPTAM argued while adding, "This is an unhealthy trend as it could transfer age-old district boundaries into ones based on communal lines." There are numerous land records of hill districts in the valley districts which need to be transferred to their respective hill district headquarters as per ADC Act 1971 boundary.

Such a case is that of the land records of Churachandpur district which are maintained in the office of Kumbi SDC, Moirang SDO, Ningthuokhong SDC, Bishnupur DC of Bishnupur district and ADC Jiribam.

The land records of Tamenglong district are maintained in the Office Of Jiribam ADC, is another such a case.

"The land records of Chandel district are maintained in the offices of Waikhong SDC, kakching SDO, and Thoubal deputy commissioner while the land records of Sadar Hills ADC are maintained in the offices of Sekmai SDC (Imphal East), Oinam SDC ( Bishnupur), Bishnupur DC and Yairipok SDC ( Thoubal)," the COPTAM representation to the chief minister pointed out.

"The COPTAM , would like to request you to kindly look into the matter and transfer all land records of hill districts as per 1971/1947 district boundary in the interest of tribals for efficient administration, peace and tranquillity in the state," it said.

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