ZCOs assert rights guaranteed by Article 371

Dimapur, August 10 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Civil Organizations (ZCOs), including the Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrog Student’s Union, today asserted the rights guaranteed under Article 371 of the Indian Constitution. 

 

Regarding the district boundary issue of Tamenglong district and Jiribam, a statement from the ZCOs informed that the proposed 48 hours Tamenglong district bandh supposed to begin from August 10 has been put on hold following “fervent appeal” from the Government of Manipur.

 

“The demand of the ZNC, LNC, RNC, RNYO, LNKR and others that those people who settled after purchased of land from Tousem Sub-Division should pay tax to Tamenglong district administrationis totally contradictory to laid down laws of the land therefore the ZCOs out rightly rejected their demand,” it added.

 

Their demands show that the organisations “are totally unaware of the existence of legal provisions which are enshrined in the Constitution of India under Article 371C to safeguard and protect the rights, interest and land of tribal people of Manipur,” it stated.

 

The statement further made clear that as per the legal provision of Article 371C, the Hill areas are exclusively for tribal people. It further informed that under section 158 of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms(MLR&LR) Act, 1960 “No transfer of land by a person who is a member of the Scheduled Tribes shall be valid unless – (a) the transfer is to another member of the Scheduled Tribe”.

 

It therefore stated that sale of land by member of a tribal to a member of non tribal or purchase of land by a member of non tribal from tribal people is legally invalid. “Non tribal people who settled within the jurisdiction of Tamenglong district boundaries bordering to Jiribam has no legal acceptability in whatsoever manner...” the statement reasoned.

 

The demand that “non tribal people should pay tax to Tamenglong district administration is deliberate attempt to sale out the inherent land rights of the Zeliangrong people on land in particular and tribal people in general which is complete violation of the laid down laws,” it added.

 

It meanwhile welcomed the statement made by Home Minister, Amit Shah on August 6 that the Modi government has no intention to remove the provisions of Article 371.

 

It ZCOs further acknowledged the Government of India “for their deep understanding to the sentiment and interest of tribal people particularly Zeliangrong people who live in three States (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) where the said Article i.e. 371B in Assam and 371C in Manipur and 371A in Nagaland is enforced.”