IMPHAL, December 2: Hill Villages shall not be brought under the proposed Sugnu SDC Circle, said Chandel (ST) AC MLA ST Nunghlung Victor in a press release today.
The MLA said in his statement that as published by the media recently, the State cabinet has approved the creation of Sugnu SDC Circle under Waikhong Sub-Division in Thoubal District.
He said although the proposed SDC Office will be helpful to the people of 11 villages including some hill villages such as Mahou (Tera), Toupokpi and Tonsen Khullen, the decision was not referred to the Hill Areas Committee.
Continuing that it has been repeatedly reminded that land matters in so far as related to Hills areas are within the purview of HAC, by virtue of Article 371 C and subsequent order, 1972, it said however, as always, the State government has again made a ploy decision to include hill villages under the proposed Sugnu SDC Circle of Thoubal district, which is unacceptable.
People may consider such decision as arbitrary, it said.
It said the government shall never forget that Manipur consists of hills and plains, and they are governed under separate Acts.
Hill areas are governed by the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, and valley areas are covered by the Manipur Land Reforms and Land Revenue Act, 1960, it said.
Their areas of operation have been clearly demarcated by the Article 371 C, and cannot be infringed upon each other.
He said it is unconstitutional and illegal, and cannot be accepted by hill people. Inclusion of Hill Villages to the proposed SDC Circle of plain areas or any part of the Hill districts shall be considered invasion of rights and land of hill people in violation of constitutional provisions, parliamentary legislation and State legislations, he said.
It is another ploy of the State government to “annex the hill areas for the advantages of plains”, because, there are no other reasons why the hill villages that govern by separate Acts has to be brought into the plains, he said.
State Cabinet is incompetent to take decision on land matters of hills without referring the matter to the HAC, he said before adding that he has no objection against the decision of the cabinet for creation of Sugnu SDC Circle.