Manipur Hill Areas Committee

Manipur’s Hill Areas Committee is a constitutionally protected committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly representing members elected from the state’s hill areas. Under Article 371C, it provides focused scrutiny and consultation on legislation, administration and policies affecting those areas, while remaining part of the state legislature.

Constitutional basis and composition

Article 371C authorises the President to establish a committee consisting of Assembly members elected from the Hill Areas specified by presidential order. The President may also modify the state government’s rules of business and the Assembly’s procedural rules to secure its proper functioning.

• The provision was operationalised through the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972.
• The Committee is neither a separate legislature nor an autonomous district council.

Legislative and representative safeguards

The Committee may consider matters affecting the Hill Areas and recommend appropriate legislative or executive action. Scheduled matters include land, forests other than reserved forests, shifting cultivation, village institutions, customary practices, public health and local administration.

• A Bill other than a Money Bill, if it affects the Hill Areas and mainly concerns a scheduled matter, must be referred to the Committee after introduction for consideration and report.
• The Assembly’s procedure must enable due consideration of the Committee’s report, thereby giving hill representatives an institutional role in relevant lawmaking.
• Its recommendations inform the Assembly and government, but the Committee has no independent legislative veto.

Governor and Union oversight

Under Article 371C(2), the Governor must report annually, or whenever required by the President, on the administration of the Hill Areas. The Union’s executive power extends to issuing directions to the state regarding their administration.

• This arrangement combines representation within the Assembly with constitutional oversight by the Governor and President.
• Representative consultation can accommodate regional concerns, strengthen trust and reduce governance-related grievances.