Lokayukta orders
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 26 2022: The Manipur Lokayukta has directed its Director (Inquiry) to conduct a preliminary inquiry to find out as to whether there exists a prima facie case for investigation in connection with a complaint filed by one individual identified as Lanranglung Gondaimei.

The complaint alleges that a sum of Rs 36,83,62,250.72 provided for paying compensation to the villagers of Marangching for land and standing properties affected by the construction of railway track from chainage No.98080 to 105419 (137.09 acre) had been siphoned off allegedly by Thuankulung Gangmei of Makhuam/Marangching village and Kh Lovejoy of Pungmon village, Noney in cahoots with the then Deputy Commissioner Tamenglong and other respondents.

The direction was given on April 22 by Justice T Nandakumar, Chairman Manipur Lokayukta and Ameising Luikham, Member Manipur Lokayukta after perusing the complaint filed before the Manipur Lokayukta.

The complainant also stated that there are many disputes in different Courts regarding land ownership as claimed by a few individuals in respect of hill tracks in Makhuam/Marangching against the Khullakpa and Khunbu, who defended the case on the ground that the village lands belong to the common ownership of Makhuam/Marangching village.

It is also stated that in and around 2010, some individuals started claiming to have a separate village in the name of Pungmon in the north-eastern portion of Makhuam/Marangching village and another separate village in the name of Kharam Pallen in a portion of Makhuam/Marangching village but neither the Government of Manipur nor the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Tamenglong had granted or recognised these villages as separate ones before initiation of the land acquisition process for construction of railway tracks.

Many individuals including the Chairman/Khullakpa or Khunbu of Makhuam/Marangching village filed different civil suits at different competent civil Courts and the High Court for declaration of their title or ownership of the village land which includes the land acquired for construction of railway track.

Several complaints were lodged before the Judicial Magistrate and the Chief Judicial Magistrate concerned regarding the disputes over ownership of the said land acquired for construction of railway track.

The order passed by the Manipur Lokayukta mentioned the complainant's allegation that the respondent No 1 (then Tamenglong DC) purportedly exercising his power under Section 33 of the Resettlement Act of 2013 illegally and whimsically corrected the award dated 21.03.2017 by passing virtually new compensatory award dated 15.06.2017 wherein he allegedly drastically changed the contents of the earlier award dated 21.03.2017 .

It is further alleged that the respondent No.1 had no power and jurisdiction to correct the earlier award dated 21.03.2017 by passing a new compensatory award order dated 15.06.2017 .

Further, on the very next day i.e.16.06.2017, the respondent No.1 passed another compensation award awarding compensations to the tune of Rs.36,83,62,250.72 in favour of respondent No.4 Thuankulung Gangmei of Makhuam/Marangching village and Kh Lovejoy of Pungmon village, Noney, and cheques were issued hastily.

After knowing quite well that the money had already been withdrawn by Thuankulung Gangmei and Kh Lovejoy, the respondent No.1, in order to save himself from the illegal act of misappropriation of the said huge amount of money by Thuankulung Gangmei and Kh Lovejoy wrote a letter to the bank to freeze the accounts of Thuankulung Gangmei and Kh Lovejoy.

Manipur Lokayukta, after careful consideration of the concise statement on which allegations are made against the respondents, observed that there exists a prima facie case for preliminary inquiry against the respondents by the inquiry wing.

Accordingly, Manipur Lokayukta directed its Director (Inquiry) to conduct a preliminary inquiry to find out as to whether there exists a prima facie case for investigation.

The Director (Inquiry), Manipur Lokayukta may entrust the present case for conducting the preliminary inquiry to any of the police officers attached to the Inquiry Wing of Manipur Lokayukta, it mentioned.

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