WP(C)/694/2025 of Shangreiyo Jajo and Anr Vs State of Manipur and 3 Ors on 5 May 2026

1. Shri Shangreiyo Jajo, aged about 60 years, (Island Ato) S/O Late Shingtaileng Jajo, Resident of Island Village, P.O & P.S. Maphao, Kangpokpi District, Manipur - 7956010.

2. Shri Ramnganing Jajo, aged about 62 years, (Island Aze) S/O Late Ahenang Jajo, Resident of Island Village, P.O & P.S. Maphao, Kangpokpi District, Manipur - 7956010

…Petitioner/s

Vrs.

1. State of Manipur, Represented by Commissioner (Revenue), Government of Manipur, Secretariat, Babupara, P.O & P.S. Imphal, Imphal West District, Manipur – 795001.

2. The Addl. Chief Secretary (TA&H), Government o Manipur, Secretariat, Babupara, P.O & P.S. Imphal, Imphal West District, Manipur – 795001.

3. The Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi district, P.O & P.S. Kangpokpi, Manipur – 795129.

4. The Chief Executive Officer, Autonomous District Council, Kangpokpi District, P.O & P.S. Kangpokpi, Manipur – 795129.

…Respondent/s

Lucy Guru mayu m Digitally signed by Lucy Gurumayum Date: 2026.05.06 15:59:47 +05'30'

-B E F O R E- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH

For the petitioner : Mr. Tungrei Ngakang, Advocate For the respondents: Mr. Shyam Sharma, GA.

Date of hearing : 06.05.2026.

Date of order : 06.05.2026.

(O R D E R) -B E F O R E- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH

Heard Mr. Tungrei Ngakang, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr. Shyam Sharma, learned GA appearing for the respondent nos. 1, 2 & 3. None appeared on behalf of the respondent no. 4.

The present writ petition has been filed with a prayer, inter alia, for issuing a direction to the respondents to recognized two separate revenue villages i.e. “Island Ato” and “Island Aze” bifurcating the existing “Island village”.

The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has already submitted representation addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi District, Manipur with a copy to the Additional Chief Secretary (TA & Hill), Government of Manipur and Chief Executive Officer, ADC Kangpokpi in connection with the prayer made by the petitioner in the present writ petition.

It has also been submitted that the said representation is still pending for consideration and disposal by the authorities. The learned counsel submitted that the petitioner will be satisfied for the time being if the present writ petition is disposed of by directing the respondents to consider the said representation on its own merit and strictly in accordance with law and to disposed of the same by issuing a speaking order within a stipulated period.

Mr. Shyam Sharma, learned GA appearing for the respondent nos. 1, 2 & 3 submitted that as per Office Memorandum dated 26.08.2008 issued by the Secretariate Revenue Department, the power to issue orders relating to creation and or recognition of villages is vested to the Revenue Department as provided by the business of the Government of Manipur (Allocation) Rules, 1999 and as such, the learned GA submitted that the respondent no. 1, i.e, the Commissioner Revenue, Government of Manipur, is the competent authority who can decide the question of bifurcation or recognition of new hill villages.

The learned GA, however, pointed out that the representation dated 30.05.2025 submitted by the petitioner No. 1 is neither addressed to the Commissioner (Revenue) nor a copy of the same has been forwarded to the said Commissioner (Revenue). The learned GA accordingly submitted that since the Revenue Commissioner is the only authority who can issue orders relating to creation and or recognition of villages, the present writ petition can be disposed of by directing the petitioners to submit a copy of the said representation dated 30.05.2026 to the Commissioner Revenue, Government of Manipur (Respondent no.

1) and by directing the respondent no. 1 to consider the same on its own merit and strictly in accordance with law.

Taking into consideration the submission advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the parties and on perusal of record and also keeping in view the Office Memorandum dated 26.08.2008 issued by the Secretariate Revenue Department, this Court is of the considered view that it will be in the interest of justice to issued the following directions;

(i) The petitioners are hereby directed to submit a copy of the representation dated 30.05.2025 along with a certified copy of this order to the Commissioner (Revenue),

Government of Manipur within a period of 2(two) weeks from today.

(ii) In the event of submitting such a representation by the petitioners as directed hereinabove within the stipulated period, the Commissioner (Revenue), Government of Manipur is hereby directed to consider the same on its own merit and strictly in terms of applicable law and to disposed of the same by issuing a speaking order.

(iii) It is made clear that consideration and disposal of the said representation should be completed within a period 4(four) months from the date of receipt of a copy of the said representation.

(iv) It is also made clear that the aforesaid direction has been issued without touching upon the merit of the present writ petition.

With the aforesaid directions, the present writ petition is disposed of.

JUDGE Lucy