NSU site belongs to Konsakhul village since time immemorial: Konsakhul Village Authority
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 10 2020: The Konsakhul (Konsaram) Village Authority, Senapati District has said that the proposed site for National Sports University complex belongs to neither Koutruk village, Imphal West district nor Haraothel village, Kangpokpi district but it is of Konsakhul village, under erstwhile Senapati district since time immemorial.

According to a release of Konsakhul Village Authority signed by Konsakhul village chief AB Alempu, in 1820, a group of individuals led by Shonglal Khoute along with others from Cholu and Thangneng clan of Vaiphei community came to Konsakhul village with a request for settlement as tenant.

The Vaiphei travelers had killed a fat dog and gifted a jar of wine (rice beer) to Konsakhul village chief and together they feasted.

Initially, 4 to 5 household of Vaiphei community started settling in the land of Konsakhul village and later the number increased to manifold.

In good faith and on humanitarian ground, the Vaiphei community was allowed to settle in the land of Konsakhul village.

However, no piece of land was demarcated separately for Vaiphei community nor gifted any portion of land but allowed them to till and cultivate freely in the land of Konsakhul village, release further said.

In recognition of the lawful land owner, each household of Vaiphei community used to pay one kaluang (sangbai) of paddy per year as rampon also known as lamban/land tax to village chief.

This tradition was followed from the time of AB Phengamang till the reign of AB Dintalang, the village chief.

However, in due course of time as they co-existed peacefully with the land owner (Konsakhul people), their bonds of friendship also grew stronger and subsequently one kaluang (sangbai) of paddy per year as rampon (land tax) was waived off, it said.

Legal position of the proposed site A writ petition No 667 of 2009 of the then Imphal Bench, Guwahati High Court, now the High Court of Manipur has been filed by one Khaidem Megha Singh of Senjam Chirang and others including Nongthombam Rajen Singh of Senjam Khunou petitioning the invocation of the writ of Mandamus for conducting revenue survey of Senjam Khunou village and Senjam Chirang village.

The writ also claimed that Haraoching is a hillock located near Koutruk village, a village last surveyed in 1960 by the Revenue department, GoM and recorded as dak No 1 of village No 47 - Koutruk.

That Haraoching is the hill land of the villagers of Senjam Chirang and Senjam Khounou.

"Ironically, the writ petition has now been withdrawn," the release said.

Konsakhul and Haraothel village had also filed a writ petition in 2017 stating that the said hillock and Koutruk dak No 1 belongs to Konsakhul village and Haraothel village falls under erstwhile Senapati district, now Kangpokpi district since time immemorial.

As the aforementioned had falls under tribal hill land, MLR & LR Act, 1960 does not apply to the region and as such no pata exist.

In fact, the original lawful land owner of the proposed site for NSU complex belongs to Konsakhul village since time immemorial claiming with the written record of case No and dated etc.

(i) In the Court of PMSD hill misc No 388 of 1920-21, signed by C Gimson ICS, President Manipur State Darbar, dated 06/12/1920.(ii) In the Court of hill Minister misc No 94 of 1947-48, signed by R Khuthing BA, MBE, M-C Minister i/c hill administration dated 02/07/1948 .

(iii) In the Court of SDC sadar + Thoubal hills criminal case No 121/s + Th hills of 1952, signed by Maisnam Nabakumar Singh sadar dated 08/11/1950 .

(iv) In the Court of Chief Commissioner, Manipur CC hill cril appeal case No 5 of 1953, signed by RP Bhargava, Chief Commissioner, Manipur dated 07/08/1953 .

As per the historical and legal position, the proposed site for NSU complex belongs to Konsakhul village (Konsaram), since time immemorial.

However, by virtue of living together under the land owner ie, Konsakhul village (Konsaram), erstwhile Senapati district generation after generation, Leilon Vaiphei and Haraothel village become part of it.

Nonetheless, it is clearly recorded in the history that on humanitarian ground Koutruk village was also allowed to utilize the adjoining area of leihou panbi - Mayaikanglam upto ching ya which falls under Konsakhul village territory for only building temple and religious activities.

Hence, Koutruk village has no right to claim the proposed NSU site as their land because the historical evidence and legal status has already been proven that the aforesaid site belongs to tribal hill people and the lawful owner is Konsakhul village, the release said.

It may be mentioned that the primary stakeholder i.e, Konsakhul village has been sidelined in the entire process of building the proposed National Sports University (NSU) complex without our knowledge and consent by the Government of Manipur and started engaging with the wrong persons who claims to be owner, it said.

"In fact, we the people of Konsakhul village have no objection with the proposed development in our land as it is the first National Sports University in the country and the entire region will benefit out of it regardless of caste, class and religions.

However, in the name of development Government of Manipur should not bulldoze and trample the rights of the poor hill people.

Therefore, it is our earnest appeal to GoM to stop immediately communal flare up like situation in the region and address the concerns of the hill people and acknowledge the lawful land ownership right of the Konsakhul village," it added.

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