Dinganglung Gangmei (IAS Retd.), Chairman of Hill Areas Committee, Manipur Legislative Assembly on 9 March 2026 had written a missive to Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh in regards to the scheduled matters of Article 371C.
D. Gangmei in his letter stated, “as you are aware the scheduled matters of Article 371C of the Constitution of our country which are under the purview of the Hill Areas Committee of Manipur Legislative Assembly. The Village Authority of Hill Areas is one of them. However, it has come to our notice that the Tribal Affairs and Hills Department of Government is issuing communication to Deputy Commissioners of Hill Districts regarding election of Village Authority without obtaining opinion of Hill Areas Committee which amounts to violation of Constitutional provisions (letter enclosed). Therefore, your personal intervention is necessary to rectify this matter in order to avoid violation of constitutional provisions.”
Article 371C of the Indian Constitution, added by the 27th Amendment Act of 1971, provides special provisions for the state of Manipur to ensure the protection and development of its tribal-dominated Hill Areas. It authorizes the President to create a Hill Areas Committee within the Manipur Legislative Assembly, composed of members elected from these areas.
The Joint Secretary, TA & Hills, Government of Manipur on 20 February 2026 has issued a notification directing all the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Ukhrul, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Churachandpur and Pherzawl District for elections to the Village Authority as per Section 6 of the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act, 1956. It also requested to submit details/list of recognised villages where village Authorities elections are proposed to be held on or before the 27th February 2026 without fail.
