IMPHAL: The Manipur legislative assembly approved a bill on Monday (March 04) that imposes strict penalties, including imprisonment for up to three years and fines of up to Rs 2 lakhs, for unauthorized renaming of places.
Dubbed the Manipur Name of Places Bill 2024, the legislation garnered unanimous support in the assembly amid ongoing ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
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Instances of one community attempting to alter the official names of places predominantly inhabited by members of the other community prompted the enactment of this bill.
Expressing the government’s resolve to safeguard Manipur’s history, cultural heritage and ancestral legacy, chief minister N Biren Singh stated, “We are committed to preventing unauthorized renaming and misuse of place names.”
“Offenders will face severe legal consequences,” the Manipur chief minister added.
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The bill highlights instances of unauthorized naming by individuals, groups or organizations, potentially leading to administrative confusion and “social discord”.
Such actions pose challenges for government officials in carrying out their duties effectively, as stated in the legislation.
According to the bill’s provisions, a seven-member committee appointed by the Manipur government will be exclusively authorized to propose changes or alterations to place names, subject to government approval.
Manipur has grappled with ethnic tensions since May last year, primarily between the dominant Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the tribal Kuki-Zo communities in hill areas.
The violence has resulted in 221 casualties and displaced approximately 50,000 individuals, according to official figures.