IMPHAL, October 18: A delegation of the All Tribal Chiefs and Public Grievances Forum (ATC & PGF) Chandel district has submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the DC Chandel Th Chittaranjan Singh today demanding payment of Land Revenue Tax to Chandel district administration.
The memorandum which was signed by 14 chairmen of Tribal Chiefs’ Association comprising of both Nagas and Kukis based in Chandel District apprised the President of the tribal households falling within the jurisdiction of Chandel, a hill area being forced to pay revenue tax to Thoubal District, which is outside the jurisdiction of the petitioner.
In the memorandum, the ATC-PGF stated that Chandel district, Chakpikarong, Tengnoupal and Machi sub-divisions falls within the hill areas and by virtue of the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Area Committee) Order, 1972, 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 all Hill Area Committee and that it have the right to consider and pass resolutions recommending to the state government 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 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 sought the intervention of the President for directing the concerned authorities concerned to convened a special meeting of the Hill Areas Committee so as to pass resolution for allowing the humble 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 complication.