The Constitution-What it means for Manipur
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Brig (Retd) L Ibotombi Singh
India celebrated its 76th Constitution Day (Samvi-dhan Diwas) on November 26, 2025, to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution on November 26, 1949, honouring the vision and contributions of Dr BR Ambedkar and the members of the Constituent Assembly. The observance this year was held under the National theme “Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swa-bhiman” (Our Constitution, Our Pride). Manipur, like the rest of India, officially celebrated the Constitution Day, which included taking the preamble pledge, speeches emphasizing the need to uphold democratic values, unity, and the rule of law, the release of bilingual editions of the Constitution in Manipuri and English to make justice accessible to all citizens and calls for citizens to reject violence and safeguard the rights of every community. Sadly for the majority of the population it was like a day of “mourning" for a promise that was made to every Indian, but is being deliberately withheld from the people of this State.
The “Samvidhan Diwas,” celebrations were significantly affected by the aftermath of ethnic conflict and perceptions of a breakdown in Constitutional machinery. In essence, while the act of observing Constitution Day occurs, it serves as a platform for a deeply divided discourse in Manipur regarding the actual implementation and protection of Constitutional provisions during this trying period. While Government bodies celebrated the day officially, however, various political and civil society groups expressed strong dissent, alleging that the Constitution's principles are being violated in the State in particular fundamental rights have been violated. The celebrations as "shadowed by Constitutional absences", the unabated violence and displacement of thousands of people reflect a "classic case of failure of Constitutional machinery"
After exercising Article 356 of the Constitution by imposing State Emergency in Manipur for more than NINE months, no significant changes have come about on ground, except for showcasing series of festivals and celebrations so as to tacitly present improvement of law and order to Political Bosses in Delhi, which otherwise is a facade. Despite deploying mammoth size of security forces, there has been no tangible results to lament improvement in situations as the people in the valley viz. Meitei community are confined in appx. 300 sq. km stretching from Shantipur to Kwakta (North to South) and Yaingangpokpi to Kouktruk (East to West) as there is a strict prohibition for travel by the valley people to other parts of Manipur citing law and order.
Likewise, Kuki-Zo people cannot travel in the valley or go from North to South or East to West via Imphal valley because of continuing mistrust and animosity between the two communities, thus are confined in their comfort zones.
The authorities at the helm have totally forgotten about 60000 Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs), who are de-facto refugees in their own home land, instead the people got carried away with the series of festivals celebrated lavishly at high scale. The latest was organising the Sangai festival by spending crores of rupees in this revenue starved State. During this delicate phase of reconciliation between the two communities i.e, Meitei and Zo-Kuki, people are flaunting their wealth in marriage ceremonies which is in poor taste. In essence, while the act of observing Constitution Day occurs, it serves as a platform for a deeply divided discourse in Manipur regarding the actual implementation and protection of Constitutional provisions during a period of ongoing crisis.
For over two years, the fundamental rights of the 3 million people in Manipur were significantly curtailed, with widespread suffering, displacement, and destruction of homes and places of worship. The present flaws related to the Constitution in Manipur stem from the breakdown of law and order, which undermines the State's Constitutional safeguards, and issues surrounding political representation and governance. This includes the alleged failure to implement Constitutional duties and issues with delimitation that have created ethnic tensions, and governance failures like corruption and misuse of funds. These problems have resulted in the erosion of basic rights and a lack of trust between the Government and the people. Major failures in governance and implementation are as under: -
Erosion of Constitutional guarantees : The current crisis has led to the curtailment of free speech and other fundamental rights, as citizens are vulnerable to intimidation and violence. Major curtailments of and basic rights as enshrined in India’s Constitution include (a) Denial off freedom of speech and expression (Article 19(1) (a)). (b) Restrictions to move freely throughout the territory of India Article 19(1) (d), particularly within the territorial jurisdiction of Manipur as Meitei community cannot travel along NH-2 and 37 for moving out of the State to other parts of India. (c) Likewise the Meitei community cannot reside and settle in any part of territory of Manipur as enshrined under Article 19(1) (e) of the Constitution. (d) Violations of right to life and personal liberty, Article 21. (e) Protection against arbitrary arrest and detention, Article 22; as there has been frequent cases of arbitrary arrest both by the State and non-State actors.. (f) Right to property under Article 300(a), as IDPs cannot return to their places and claim for their hard earned properties and houses.
Failure to fulfill Constitutional duties : The Central government has failed to act decisively to uphold its duty underArticle 356 of the Constitution, which obliges the Union to assist States during a breakdown of Constitutional machinery.
Corruption and mismanagement : Allegations of high corruption in Government departments have led to the misuse of funds, hindering development and proper implementation of works.
Systematic internet shutdowns : The State has experienced one of the longest internet blackouts in India's history, which has isolated the population and made it difficult to exercise rights like free speech.
Ethnic division: The ongoing conflict has led to a deep ethnic divide in the state, which is described as being in a state of "partition".
The Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947, one of the first States in Asia to have its own Constitution, which established a Constitutional framework for the princely State before it merged with India. It was a written Constitution enacted by Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh that established a democratic form of Government for the princely State of Manipur. It created an elected Legislative Assembly and made the Maharaja a figurehead, but became obsolete after Manipur was merged with the Indian Union on October 15th, 1949. The Act established a Constitutional monarchy with the Maharaja as the executive head, supported by an elected Legislative Assembly and there were no restrictions for all the subjects of the State to move freely and reside permanently within the geographical territory of Manipur, unlike the present impasse where Imphal valley accounts for 10 percent of the land and is home to the majority Meitei community, who make up roughly 64.6 percent of the State’s population cannot reside in Hill Areas.
For a long-term permanent solution in Manipur, first: maximum efforts must be put in to bring normalcy on priority, second: early time bound settlement of all IDPS, third:ensure free, unrestricted travel for Meitei people (or Kuki-Zo people in the reverse direction) between the Imphal Valley and Hill Districts, fourth: rule of the land and fear of law must prevail both in the hills and valley which include prevention of arbitrary arrests, detention and corporal punishment by the non-state actors., fifth:preclusionof illegal tax collection (extortion) by non-State actors with harsh punitive actions. At the same time the restrictions imposed by Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 need to be re-examined and amended accordingly.
India celebrated its 76th Constitution Day (Samvi-dhan Diwas) on November 26, 2025, to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution on November 26, 1949, honouring the vision and contributions of Dr BR Ambedkar and the members of the Constituent Assembly. The observance this year was held under the National theme “Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Swa-bhiman” (Our Constitution, Our Pride). Manipur, like the rest of India, officially celebrated the Constitution Day, which included taking the preamble pledge, speeches emphasizing the need to uphold democratic values, unity, and the rule of law, the release of bilingual editions of the Constitution in Manipuri and English to make justice accessible to all citizens and calls for citizens to reject violence and safeguard the rights of every community. Sadly for the majority of the population it was like a day of “mourning" for a promise that was made to every Indian, but is being deliberately withheld from the people of this State.
The “Samvidhan Diwas,” celebrations were significantly affected by the aftermath of ethnic conflict and perceptions of a breakdown in Constitutional machinery. In essence, while the act of observing Constitution Day occurs, it serves as a platform for a deeply divided discourse in Manipur regarding the actual implementation and protection of Constitutional provisions during this trying period. While Government bodies celebrated the day officially, however, various political and civil society groups expressed strong dissent, alleging that the Constitution's principles are being violated in the State in particular fundamental rights have been violated. The celebrations as "shadowed by Constitutional absences", the unabated violence and displacement of thousands of people reflect a "classic case of failure of Constitutional machinery"
After exercising Article 356 of the Constitution by imposing State Emergency in Manipur for more than NINE months, no significant changes have come about on ground, except for showcasing series of festivals and celebrations so as to tacitly present improvement of law and order to Political Bosses in Delhi, which otherwise is a facade. Despite deploying mammoth size of security forces, there has been no tangible results to lament improvement in situations as the people in the valley viz. Meitei community are confined in appx. 300 sq. km stretching from Shantipur to Kwakta (North to South) and Yaingangpokpi to Kouktruk (East to West) as there is a strict prohibition for travel by the valley people to other parts of Manipur citing law and order.
Likewise, Kuki-Zo people cannot travel in the valley or go from North to South or East to West via Imphal valley because of continuing mistrust and animosity between the two communities, thus are confined in their comfort zones.
The authorities at the helm have totally forgotten about 60000 Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs), who are de-facto refugees in their own home land, instead the people got carried away with the series of festivals celebrated lavishly at high scale. The latest was organising the Sangai festival by spending crores of rupees in this revenue starved State. During this delicate phase of reconciliation between the two communities i.e, Meitei and Zo-Kuki, people are flaunting their wealth in marriage ceremonies which is in poor taste. In essence, while the act of observing Constitution Day occurs, it serves as a platform for a deeply divided discourse in Manipur regarding the actual implementation and protection of Constitutional provisions during a period of ongoing crisis.
For over two years, the fundamental rights of the 3 million people in Manipur were significantly curtailed, with widespread suffering, displacement, and destruction of homes and places of worship. The present flaws related to the Constitution in Manipur stem from the breakdown of law and order, which undermines the State's Constitutional safeguards, and issues surrounding political representation and governance. This includes the alleged failure to implement Constitutional duties and issues with delimitation that have created ethnic tensions, and governance failures like corruption and misuse of funds. These problems have resulted in the erosion of basic rights and a lack of trust between the Government and the people. Major failures in governance and implementation are as under: -
Erosion of Constitutional guarantees : The current crisis has led to the curtailment of free speech and other fundamental rights, as citizens are vulnerable to intimidation and violence. Major curtailments of and basic rights as enshrined in India’s Constitution include (a) Denial off freedom of speech and expression (Article 19(1) (a)). (b) Restrictions to move freely throughout the territory of India Article 19(1) (d), particularly within the territorial jurisdiction of Manipur as Meitei community cannot travel along NH-2 and 37 for moving out of the State to other parts of India. (c) Likewise the Meitei community cannot reside and settle in any part of territory of Manipur as enshrined under Article 19(1) (e) of the Constitution. (d) Violations of right to life and personal liberty, Article 21. (e) Protection against arbitrary arrest and detention, Article 22; as there has been frequent cases of arbitrary arrest both by the State and non-State actors.. (f) Right to property under Article 300(a), as IDPs cannot return to their places and claim for their hard earned properties and houses.
Failure to fulfill Constitutional duties : The Central government has failed to act decisively to uphold its duty underArticle 356 of the Constitution, which obliges the Union to assist States during a breakdown of Constitutional machinery.
Corruption and mismanagement : Allegations of high corruption in Government departments have led to the misuse of funds, hindering development and proper implementation of works.
Systematic internet shutdowns : The State has experienced one of the longest internet blackouts in India's history, which has isolated the population and made it difficult to exercise rights like free speech.
Ethnic division: The ongoing conflict has led to a deep ethnic divide in the state, which is described as being in a state of "partition".
The Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947, one of the first States in Asia to have its own Constitution, which established a Constitutional framework for the princely State before it merged with India. It was a written Constitution enacted by Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh that established a democratic form of Government for the princely State of Manipur. It created an elected Legislative Assembly and made the Maharaja a figurehead, but became obsolete after Manipur was merged with the Indian Union on October 15th, 1949. The Act established a Constitutional monarchy with the Maharaja as the executive head, supported by an elected Legislative Assembly and there were no restrictions for all the subjects of the State to move freely and reside permanently within the geographical territory of Manipur, unlike the present impasse where Imphal valley accounts for 10 percent of the land and is home to the majority Meitei community, who make up roughly 64.6 percent of the State’s population cannot reside in Hill Areas.
For a long-term permanent solution in Manipur, first: maximum efforts must be put in to bring normalcy on priority, second: early time bound settlement of all IDPS, third:ensure free, unrestricted travel for Meitei people (or Kuki-Zo people in the reverse direction) between the Imphal Valley and Hill Districts, fourth: rule of the land and fear of law must prevail both in the hills and valley which include prevention of arbitrary arrests, detention and corporal punishment by the non-state actors., fifth:preclusionof illegal tax collection (extortion) by non-State actors with harsh punitive actions. At the same time the restrictions imposed by Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 need to be re-examined and amended accordingly.