Nullify notification of LRD: UNC to Bhalla
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 25 2025: The United Naga Council (UNC) has submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla calling for cancellation of a notification issued by the Land Resources Department on September 18 pertaining to the procedure for sale, purchase, and registration of land in Manipur.

The memo bearing the signatures of Ng Lorho and Vareiyo Shatsang, president and general secretary of UNC respectively, argued that the notification appears to contravene the special provisions under Article 371 C of the Indian Constitution, which safeguards the interests of tribal communities in Manipur's Hill Areas and further contradicts the tribal land holding system in the State.

If the notification is implemented without taking into consideration the special provisions and traditional tribal land rights and interests of tribal communities in Manipur's Hill Areas, it will potentially lead to explosion, social upheaval and social unrest, the UNC warned.

According to UNC, all Scheduled matters related to the Hill Areas should be within the purview of the Hill Areas Committee as per the Hill Areas Committee order 1972, promulgated by Dr W Giri, the-then President of India.

Traditional land holding system is still in vogue in the Hill Areas with the exception of a "few stretch of plain areas in Moreh, Churachandpur, Chandel and Khoupum valley" under Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960, said the UNC .

It asserted that there is no law that governs the sale of tribal lands in the "Hill Areas" and they are either owned by individuals, communities, clans, Chiefs etc based on the traditional and customary practices.

Therefore, making the notification applicable to the entire State of Manipur without reference to the Constitutional provision enshrined under Article 371 C is "unconstitutional and illegal in the eye of law", said UNC.

In the light of these concerns, UNC requested the Governor to consider cancelling the notification and direct the Land Resources Department to revisit the policy, ensuring that it aligns with the Constitutional provisions under Article 371 C and respects the rights of the tribal people.

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