29/09/2015
terview with Sonmang Lenthang, Asst. Legal in Ministry of Law & Justice
26 Sep 2015
956 times
Achesa August 31, 2015 nikho a Manipur State govt in Assembly Special Session a Bill thum ana passed nau jeh a tunichan a Thinglhang mite'n hiche Bill 3 ho doudalna a kiphinna leh Ngehna chom-chom ihin neidoh nauva hin, Tahchapa mi 9 in ahinna jong achaan tauvin, chuleh Centre le State thunei vaihom le luboh ho heng'ah JAC, Inpi leh Tribal Forum min in India pumi titahlou Country dang akon um Manipur Thinglhangmi ho kisan in jong Centre thunei vaihom ho heng'ah hiche Bill 3 ho nunglahdoh na din memorandum ijat ham ana seplut tauvin ahi. Hinlah State govt titahlou Thinglhangmi MLA ho changei in jong hiche Bill 3 hohin Thinglhang mite atongkha poi, tong jong tongkha ponte tin seithem them in ana sei jing uvin ahi. Chutoh lhon chun hiche thu hi seitho keo hilouva mitin in ahetchet ding deina jal in BOMBIEL.COM in Dan le muol (Legal) lam'a hetgilna nei ho dohchen a mipi simthei a tahdoh ding akinop jeh in tutua Assistant Legal, Ministry of Law & Justice, Dept. of Legal Affairs a tong Pu Sonmang Lenthang ana kiki jahmatpi in, anoiya thudoh ho hi ana kilhut in, chutoh lhon chun aman jong adihtah a ahetna ho leh amudoh jouse ahin seilha'n, ahung kitahlang in ahi.
[Bold=Thudoh, SL=Sonmang Lenthang]
Amasapen in nangma chanchin, nahung kondohna, tupet a natohna chahnchin neihin seipeh le chun kipa um inte.
SL: Keima chanchin achomlam tah in, Kamin ahileh Sonmang Lenthang ahin, kahung kon dohna chu ahileh Thangkanphai, Saikul, Sadar Hills East akon kahi in, 2006, k*m chun Shillong Law College a LL.B kana chaijin, January 2007 in Advocate(Lawyer) ah enrolled kana kibol in, enrolment kabol joutoh lhon in Meghalaya High Court, Shillong mun ah practice kana bol in, October 2013 k*m chun Advocate apat in Assistant Legal, Ministry of Law & Justice, Dept. of Legal Affairs ah katong pan tan ahi.
Tuchung State govt in Governor in approve abol ding'a ana thot nauva chun hiche Bill 3 ho chu "Money Bill" dan in ana sei uvin ahin contents (Preamble, Objectives) ho ah taxation, expenditure ima akisun poi akitin, nahin seichen thei ding ham?
SL: “Money Bill” Amasan hiche money bill hetchet thei na ding in; Article 110 (a) to (g) of the Constitution of India chuleh Rules and Procedure of Business chungchang thu hi het masat angai in, chuban achun money bill akitileh hetthei ding chun “Money bill should be related to the imposition of taxes and expenditure likely to involve transactions effecting the consolidated fund of the Union & State”.
Hiche jeh hin tuchung a bill 3 hohi achaina lam khu ivetle financial memorandum annexed akibol jou kei in chuleh bill 3 ho jong hi Special Session a passed akibol cheh in, hiche teni criteria anei vang a Money bill akiti thei poi, ajeh chu achunga criteria ho khatcha asuhbulhit lou jeh hin; Tuchung a State Govt. In bill 3 thum ho “Money bill” tia Governor kom a soi (Sign) bol ding a athot hi State Govt. in henasa a constitution toh kitoh louva mipi mislead abol dan hi kichen tah in akimuthei in chuleh bill 3 ho chungchang thu akon ahin phaicham mite alunggel u leh atup u asung a achom, apam a achom ahi jong kicheh in akimu theikit e.
"Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015" hi tuk*mbul lang'a State assembly in 'Manipur Regulations of Visitors, Tenants & Migrant workers Bill 2015' ana nunglahdoh (withdraw) toh chun ichangei a kikhe ham? Chuleh 'PMP Bill' a thinglhang mite sukha thei ding'a nagel content ipi pi um am?
SL: Question donbut na hi hop(Part) ni a hop angaijin;
Khat na a, Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants & Migrant Workers Bill 2015 (MRVT&MW, 2015) chung chang a State Govt. in ana nung lahdohna jeh chu ahileh JCILPS hon (Influx of migrant ) chungchang thu ajao poi atijeh uva, State govt. chun mipi lunglhaina dungjui a expert ho akidoh jouteng Special Session a kipodoh ding ahi ati. State govt in akitepna to lhon chun MRVT & MW, 2015 ahin suhkeh (Split) in tua bill thum hohi (1) Protection of Manipur People, 2015 (2) MLR & LR, (Seventh Amendment) Bill 2015 (3) Manipur Shops and Establishment (Second Amendment)Bill 2015 tia hung kisemdoh ahi. Hijeh hin State Govt. in ananung lahdoh pa toh tua bill 3 hohi akikhehna um lou, hinlah akihapbe tichu khat a kon a thum joh hung ki supung ahijeh in hiche hi JCILPS ho demand jeh seh hilouvin State Govt. in phaicham mite lungtup jouse hi molsona ding a tohgon ahi kitileh kisei khel ponte.
Anina a, PMP Bill, 2015 hin thinglhang mite asuhkhah theina ding lampi hochu ahileh Clause (1) of Section 1 “It shall extend to the whole state of Manipur” hiche a kon a mudoh thei chu ahileh PMP bill hi Imphal District li (4) li sung a bou hitalou vin Manipur thinglhang gam jouse jong ahop ahitah jeh hin HAC subject matter (Schedule are) jong mutheitah in atong kha e.
Sub-sec 2 of section 2 “Manipur Person” Manipur mi hina ding hin anoija sese ahin minchon angaijin (a) National Register of Citizens 1951, (b) Census Report 1951, (c) Village Director, 1951 chuleh akhang khang a social, cultural and economic life of Manipur a pan hila jing hobou chu Manipur mi tina ahi.
Sub-sec 3 of section 2 “Non Manipur Person” achung a min jaolou ho.
Statement and object: Statement and object kisei lah a adihlou themkhat ho chu ahileh ‘Manipur is one of the Hills State’ Manipur hi a itih a Hills State ahi khapon, hinlah ST Status mutheina ding a State govt lungtup/tohgoun molsona ding joh a thilgoun ahi, hijeh hin 10% in 90 % geographical area a um ho noise tah a consult bol lou a photlou changlouva bills 3 ki passed ahi. Chuban jom achun a thuchang mandan u (Wording) ‘a panic in the mind of people of Manipur’ should be a panic in the mind of plain/valley people of Manipur, a mass movement by the people of Manipur should be a mass movement of plain/valley people of Manipur. Hiche thuchang neo2 hohi semtoh louva aumleh thinglhang mite hin tongkha thei ahi.
Principal Act of 1960 leh MLR&LR (Seventh amendment) Bill, 2015 teni a kikhehna ipi um ham? chuleh MLR&LR (7th amendment) Bill, 2015 hin ichangei mong-mong'a thinglhang mite asuhkhah a nahet am?
SL: Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reform (Seventh Amendment) Bill,2015 (MLR&LR), gahve leu hen (Insertion of new section 14 A) “(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, non-Manipur person.... Purchase any land in the state of Manipur shall submit an application to the Deputy Commissioner.... him.” Hiche hin avetsah chu ahileh provision of statute book a ana umsa khat chu legislature in bar hung kibol thei ahi tihi kichehtah in aki muthei in, chuleh ‘purchase any land in the state of Manipur’ kiti thuchang hin MLR&LR hi thinglhang gam a extend bol na ding a tohgon ahi.
14 B. “Allotment of land to a non-Manipur person- allotment of land to a non-Manipuri person …………………… shall be made by the Govt. after obtaining prior approval of the State Cabinet” hiche a kon a mudoh thei chu ahileh Manipur thinglhang gam jouse hi State govt hin choh thei na dingleh khot sohlut thei na le phalna hi State Cabinet in apeh thei ahi, hinlah hiche ho jouse thuchang hung kihapbe na hi HAC order, 1972 to jong kitohlou ahi. Hetchet ding khat chu MLR & LR, 1960 ahin State Cabinet kiti hin gamle go chungchang thu ahin imacha thanei na ding lampi aumpoi.
“Section 158 land belonging to ST in the valley areas cannot be sold to Non ST without a prior consent of the DC concerned……” Principal Act of 1960 akon a jao lou thuchung seventh amendmentbill 2015 ahin thil athah khat ahung kijep lut kitin hichu “Valley Areas” hi ahi.
Section 14 A, 14B le 158 hung kihengbe hin achom lam a hetthei di chun Dy. Commissioner hin District Council hi akhaltan a phalna (Approval) hi State Cabinet kom a alahthei hi Manipur Hills Areas District Council Act, 1971 leh HAC Order Danbu to jong kitoh thei mong lou ahi. Hiche ho jouse hi thinglhang miten hiche bill hi aventup lou ule thinglhang gamjoue hi lahpeh a hung um thei ahi.
Alangkhat ah tuchung Bill 3 thua kiphinna ho ahin "The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015" hi akiha seiging pon, hiche Bill hi thinglhang mite dia ichangeiya phamo a nahet am?
SL: Manipur Shops and Establishment(2nd amendment) Bill, 2015 (MS&E) hiche act jong hi Manipur thinglhang mite hin tongkha thei khat ma ahi in, ajeh chu MS&E, 2015 hi phaicham bouva apply kibol ding ahipon, thinglhang gam jouse a jong apply hung kibol ding ahitoh lhon in MS&E Bill, 2015 hi Social and custom kisai chung chang thu ahijeh in clause 12 second schedule of HAC order, 1972 noija kisei bang chun State Govt. hin HAC refer abol ngaija ahi in, hinlah state govt. chun HAC refer bol louva hiche bill jonghi hung ki passed ahi. Chuleh hiche seh hilou vin “Rules of Procedure and conduct of business in MLA” dan to jong kitoh theilou ahi.
Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972: Article 4 Clause (1) & (2) dungjui a tuchung'a Bill 3 passed kibol hi HAC bypass akibol e tin jong akiseiyin, nang hetdan a ichangeiya HAC phalna ngai ham?
SL: Hiche chungchang thu hi seminar paper a presentation a bol ngai ding topic ahi in, hinlah neidoh tah jeh achom theina chan leh hetthem thei na ding in kahin hilchen e. Clause 2 of sec 4 of HAC order 1972 dungui ahin Bill, other than money bill kiti jouse hi HAC a refer bol ding ahi akiti, hinlah State govt. In refer abol louna ajeh ho hi hilchetna ding a hin HAC Original order, 1972 New Delhi leh Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat, GOM dated 31.10.2005 (Eight editions) teni hi phatah a comparison bol angai jin, achom lam in gah vekhom ute;
Clause 3 of section 4 HAC original order: Clause 3 Rule 4 Functions of the HAC ‘The HAC shall have the right to consider and pass resolutions recommending to the Govt. of the State any legislation or executive action effecting the Hill areas with respect to any schedule matter so legislation......” hiche clause a kon hin thuchang thupi pen So legislation ti thuchang hi Manipur Legislative Assembly, Secretariat, GOM clause 3 of Rule 4 functions of the HAC a hung kilahdoh (omit) ahi.
Rules 7- ‘Modifications in the Rules of Business of the Govt. of Manipur’ a Governor thaneina chu, Rules-7 of Manipur Legislation Assembly achun Governor chu Government tin ahung kilheh kit in.
Rules 9 chu isim kit le Special Responsibility of the Governor in his discretion kiti thuchang chu direction tin ahung kilheh kit in ahi.
The fourth schedule- clause 2 of sec 157A ‘when the bill is not approved by the HAC but is passed by the Assembly, the speaker shall submit to the Governor the bill as passéd by the bill as reported by the HAC’ akiti in hinlah Manipur Legislative Assembly, Secretariat GOM a isim teng last line ahung kikhel kit in bill as reported by the HAC thuchang hi report of HAC tin ahin lheh kit un.
K*m 40 val jen hi State Govt. hin thinglhang mite hi suhnem in ahin koi in, hiche chungchon achun State govt. hin article 371C hi letter and spirit a implement abol nom poi ti hi akicheh in akimu in, ajeh chu article 371C jong hi autonomy beija Centre Govt. in insert ana bol hi State govt. tuni geija lha lhouva thinglhang mite dinga kipe HAC chamlhatna jouse hi ol ol a asuhmang a, adei dan a akikhel uva tunia hi State govt. in by pass akibol poi tia aseikit ahi hinlah adihchet a seiding chun HAC original order 1972 hohi alter ana kibol lou hi leh clause 2 of sec.4 of HAC order 1972 dungjui a State Govt. hin HAC hi by pass kibol thei lou ahi hinlah hiche alter ana kibol cheng jong hi tunigei in a court of law a unchallenged ahijeh hin State Govt. hin imitmo nau hi pansatna anei a a bills 3 hohi passed abol ahi.
PMP Bill 2015 content "sub-section (2) of section 2' leh section 8 clause (a) le (b) chungchang kisei dan hi hin hilchen jep le chun kipa um inte.
SL: Hettheina ding in section ho katahlang nom in, sub sec 2 of sec .4 ‘Manipur person’ hi Question No.3 a ka donbut tan, sub sec. 1&2 of sec 8 "Person to be exempted’’ (1), 'The native people of State of Manipur’ (2) Person employed……….......................... from time to time’
Hiche chungchang thuhi, State Govt. hin hilchetna(clarification) aneina a achun sub sec 2 of sec 2 hi ako/adoi chu ahileh outsider/non Manipur person, 1951 jouva hung chenglut ho, hinlah Manipur mi hija, hiche lai mun a ana peng, ahung peng chuleh aum jing ho chu sub sec 1 of sec 8 in aveng bit e akitikit in, chuban achun State govt chun sub sec 1 of sec 8 hilchetna ahin neikitna achun Native people kiti chu Manipur thinglhang le phaicham a cheng mijouse tina ahe atikitin. Native people kiti thuchang hila PMP, bill 2015 ahin hilchetna a la munkhat cha a akimu kit pon, hijeh hin achom lam a sei ding hin sub sec 2 of sec 2 a criteria 3 thum suhbulhit sese hoboi hi Native people tina ahe atigot u ahi. Hiche jeh hin State govt. hin atup le adoipipen hi thinglhang mite jouse Non Manipur person hisah a gam le go jouse hi lah peh ding hi tohgoun ahi ti hi kicheh tah akimudoh theije.
Ccpur a Tribal Conclave kibolna a declaration achun "Hiche Bill 3 hohi Autonomous District Council (ADC) kivaipohna ho sese a achelhah theina loudia clause hapding" ana tiuvin, alangkhat State govt in ADC la athaneina lhingset apedoh kit pon, clause kihapbe ding hi ichangeiya ADC kivaipohna gamkai ho secure jou dia nagel am?
SL: District Council thu isei dile, amasan, Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 chungchang thu hi hetthem angai in ahi. Ajeh chu ADC Manipur a hi Statutory authority/body created under Act of 1971 ahibouvin, hinlah ADC created under Sixth schedule of the Constitution chu Constitutional authority/ body ahi. Tutua ADC leh ADC Sixth schedule teni hi akibahna mong aum theipon ajeh chu tutua ADC Manipur hi absolutely under the extensive control of State Govt. ahi in, hinlah ADC Sixth Schedule noiya um ho chu neither under the control of the state nor part of the state ahijeh u chun State within the State kitilona pen chu ahi.
Hiche jeh hin tutua nei thudoh uhi MT ADC conclave a ajao cheng hohin a core issue le legal position hohi ahetthem lou jeh himai tantin, hijeh chun mi mu ding in ahoi hoi nan, aphat-phat na'n clause aja aja 100 times hengbe uhen lang State govt in 1000 times amendment kibol jong le state govt thaneina kipebe cheh jo ahi e, chule thinglhang mite ading a phatchomna ding khat cha aumpoi.
Tuchangeiya State government, CM, Dy. CM titahlou Thinglhangmi MLA/Minister inei houvin, "hiche Bill 3 hohin thinglhang mite tongkha ponte, chuleh hitilam'a ahethem ho ana kidong'a chelhahpi dia kiphatsah ahi" atiuhi iti nagel am?
SL: kan donbutna ding ahin nei thudoh nau Q No.6 answer akhun hilchetna legal issues ho kasei tan, aban jom achun epi jeh ahi State govt.leh representative hon thinglhang mite a tongkha ponte atiu ham ajeh chu State govt hin expert ho to kitho a abol ding leh atohdiu pa chu kicheh a ahet them a doi le tup anei u ahi. Hiche doi le tup ho chu achomlam in veuhite;
Meilhei te tup le doi achoom lam gah ve khom leu hen;
The amendment of Article 371C of the Indian Constitution will be a permanent cure to all conflict in Manipur. Meilhei ten adeipen uhi eiho seiding pa chu amaho joh hin ahin sei u ahitan ajeh chu haimil louding khat chu ahileh meilhei tehin Schedule Tribe status adal uhi atup pipen u hi ahijeh in Manipur gam hi Article 371C jehhin thinglhang mile phaicham mi aki ki khen in hijeh hin article 371C hi amend bol ngai ja atiu ahi.
The whole state of Manipur should be declared as Hill State. Hiche lungtup anei jeh hin tuchung a PMP bill 2015, MLR&LR, MS&E, 2015 a hilchetna achung lam a kisei thinglhang mi atong khai iti jouse hiche jeh ahi.
All the Ethnic groups in Manipur may be brought under one uniform Land Law. Question No.4 a kadonbut na ajao tan.
The article 3 of Indian Constitution regarding alteration of State boundaries shall not apply to Manipur to protect the 200 year old territorial integrity of Manipur,
The right identity, culture, tradition, religion, land, language, script, indigenous people of Manipur should be protected
All indigenous religion of Manipur may be recognised by the Govt. of India.
Hiche ho hi ivet a phatah isim leh meilheite hi Schedule Tribe status hiteina ding a tohgoun aneiju u akicheh in, chuleh thinglhang mite chenna gam le go hohi lahpeh thei na ding a tohgoun ahijong akicheh kit in, hiche jeh hin tuchung a bill 3 hohi hung kipohdoh ahin, chuleh state govt dei chu ahileh thinglhang le phaicham a cheng jouse hi thakhat kahi uvin hiche ho jeh ahin One uniform law a kipohthei na ding a tuchung a bill 3 hohi hung kipodoh ahi. Hijeh hin thinglhang mite ichihthei lou ule ichan diuva lom jouse jonghi phaicham miten ei lahpeh got nau bill joh ahi kiti le kiseikhel ponte. Achainan hiche bill 3 thum hin thinglhang mite iti dan atongkha poi kiti thei ding ham atohkhah dan chu hiche bills 3 hi withdraw or achung eitongkha thei jouse alahdoh lou ngei-ngei le state govt. in alungtupa molso seh hilouva, thinglhang mi hina jong status jong nailam a, Manipur thinglhang mite jouse identity, social, custom, tradition, land etc. ho jouse suhmang hung um nalai di ahi.
Nangma hetdan a hiche Bill 3 ho leh tuchan mipi kiphinna ho chuleh Centre a memorandum kipelut ho akon iti lamdol in (legally, politically) pan kila (fight) leh ti ngaidan nanei am?
SL: Tuchung a bill 3 holeh tuchan a mipi kiphinna ho chuleh centre a memorandum kipelut ho chung a keima ngaidan chu ahileh ja um tah-tah ka nam lamkai te ho jouse ahi in mipite ahi in chuleh thepna sangtah tah neiho ahi in, adihtah a seidi chun 1972 k*m apat tuni geija (bill 3 thum) iboina jouse hi legal issues ahung hipeh in, hinlah legal fraternity te consult ina bol nom tahlou jeh uhin a core issue ihethem tapouvin, a core issue ihet tahlou jeh uhin achungvum a na itong tauvin hiche jeh hin dinmun hoilou laitah in iding tauvin ahi. Hiche akon hin khahdoh na'n kinei thei hen lang, legal fraternity apoimo dan kihechen thei tahen lang kingaicha taleh ikiphin nau, iseidoh ho jouse le itup le idoi ho jouse hi mohseh a aum lou ding kakinem e.
Tekah na'n, Manipur Statehood kimu 1972 nia apat ahin tuni gei ahin thinglhang mite'n chamlhatna ineitheilou lou nau le state govt. in adei dei a akhut a*o theina jouse hi Aricle 371C of the Constitution of India jeh ahi tihi hi ihet/kihe chen le dei um kasai! hijeh hin lamkai, mipi jouse awareness kineithei hen lang article 371C akon a kihung potdoh go leh, alternative arrangement tichu indigenous people of the North Eastern State of India thinglhang mite ho ding a um article 244 & 275(1) of Constitution of India Sixth Schedule (Separate administration) ahin um ding hin kichehtah in kiphut thei in tin, hiche separate administration a ium ding tia itup teng angaicha (criteria) ho kihe thei intin, hijeh hin hiti tobang legally a feasible thei ding tup le doi inei teng ima lampi kicheh tah in kimano thei tante.
Interviewed on September 24, 2015 by Gin Haokip for BOMBIEL.COM
