Tribal chiefs petitioned Prez for payment of land tax in home disrict
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Chandel, October 18 2013 : A delegation of All Tribal Chiefs and Public Grievances Forum (ATC&PGF), Chandel today Deputy Commissioner of Chandel at his office and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India pleading for payment of Land Revenue within the Jurisdiction of Chandel District itself.

The memorandum which was signed by fourteen Chairmen of fourteen Tribal Chiefs' Association comprising both Naga and Kuki villages within Chandel District apprised the President regarding the tribal households falling within the jurisdiction of Chandel being forced to pay revenue tax to Thoubal District.

Referring to the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Area Committee )Order, 1972 published on 20th June 1972 and promulgated by the then President of India VV Giri in exercise of the power conferred by Special Provision of Act 371 (C), the memorandum pointed out that in the said order 2 (c) Hill Area is defined and Chandel, Chakpikarong, Tengnoupal and Machi Sub-Divisions fall within the hill areas and by virtue of item 3 of the scheduled matter (Second Scheduled) of the said order, allotment, occupation or use or the setting apart of land and the management of any forests not being a reserved forest are within the purview of Hill Area Committee.

According to the paragraph 4 (3) of the said order, 1972, the Hill Areas shall have the right to consider and pass resolutions recommending to the Government of the State regarding any legislation and executive action affecting the Hill Areas with respect to any scheduled matter as such payment of revenue to the concerned district is absolutely within the purview of the of the Hill Areas Committee it stated.

It also termed the act of the State Government compelling the petitioners and the villagers to pay land Revenue Tax to Thoubal District without referring the Hill Areas Committee as 'arbitrary', 'illegal', 'discriminatory and 'ultra virus'.

The memorandum also stated that the petitioners and their villagers fall within the hill areas of Manipur as such paying Land Revenue within their District Chandel is a fundamental right and demanded that the Hill Areas Committee Chairman should convened a meeting to pass the resolution of the petitioners and villagers pay Land Revenue Tax to their respective SDC concerned within Chandel District.

The ATC& PGF Chandel District sought the intervention of the President of India for directing the concerned authorities to convene a special meeting of the Hill Areas Committee so as to pass resolution for allowing the petitioners and their villagers to pay Land Revenue Tax to the concerned Chandel district for better convenience, justice and most of all to avoid any future complications.

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