CHAPTER k

ADMINISTRATION OF THE HILL TRIBES

IN MANIPUR STATE

Before the British assumed political power in the

state, the Maharaja had been discharging the responsible! zj

for the administration of both the plains and the hill

areas of Manipur State. The Hill Tribes had a great res] ect

for the king of Manipur and considered him as their 'll-, e

1
lord' for generations in the past. The administration f

the tribesj however, was practically left to the local ’.ri-

bes themselves with the least interference by the king, lie

Maharaja only received the loyalty of the tribes through

their Chiefs known as the Khullakpas. The Chiefs were selec­

ted by the local traditions of the tribes. The Maharaja did

not normally interfere in such appointments. The Chiefs

enjoyed maximum autonomy. The central authority at ImphaJ

was represented by the Lambus appointed by the Maharaja. 1t

goes without saying that the hills and the plains populeiLcn

of the state were one in the defence of their state. Tht

minstrel sang : " Manipur Sana Laimayon; Chingna Koina

4* +
Pansaba; Haona Koina Pangakpa ".

1. Constentine, R., Manipur ( Maid Of The Mountains) ,

Lancers Publishers, New Delhi, 1981, p. 31•

++ 0! Golden Heartland 1 Manipur, Girdled By Hills All

Around, Guarded By Tribes On Thy Hills.
 U f i+

T h e t r a d i t i o n a l s y s t e m o f h i l l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w a s

c o n t i n u e d e v e n a f t e r t h e B r i t i s h e s t a b l i s h e d p o l i t i c a l

p o w e r i n t h e s t a t e . T h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e M a h a r a j a w a s t a ! ; a n

o v e r b y t h e P o l i t i c a l A g e n t a n d S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f S t a c e . I n

a d d i t i o n t o t h i s , f i v e M a n i p u r i S a r d a r s w e r e a p p o i n t e d 1

s u p e r v i s e t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f r e v e n u e a n d i m p r e s s m e n t o f

p
c o o l i e s . A s a n a t t e m p t t o i n c l u d e h i l l m e n i n t h e H i l l -

O f f i c e e s t a b l i s h m e n t , t r i b a l L a m b u s w e r e a l s o a p p o i n t e d .

B u t , t h e P o l i t i c a l A g e n t f o u n d i t i n c o n v e n i e n t t o w o r k .1 L.

t h e t r i b a l L a m b u s . T h u s , t h e t r i b a l L a m b u s w e r e r e m o v e d :

a n d t h e o l d p r a c t i c e o f c o n d u c t i n g h i l l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n v 1 o n

t h e M a n i p u r i L a m b u s a n d L a f f l - S u b e d a r s w a s r e s u m e d s i n c e i -

J a n u a r y 1904 . ^

T h e M a n i p u r A d m i n i s t r a t i o n R u l e s , f r a m e d b y M a j o r M a x w e . ; ,

t h e P o l i t i c a l A g e n t a n d S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f S t a t e , w i t h ' o . r

a p p r o v a l o f I n d i a , i n 1 8 9 2 d i d n o t c l e a r l y s p e c i f y t h e m e > ; e

o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e h i l l a r e a s t h o u g h i t h a d s u f f i c i e n t

d e t a i l s i n m a t t e r s o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e v a l l e y . I n .. n e

a b s e n c e o f a n y c l e a r l y d e f i n e d r u l e , a l l c a s e s c o n c e r n i ; r

t h e h i l l t r i b e s i n M a n i p u r w e r e d i s p o s e d o f b y t h e P o l i o ; -

c a l A g e n t a n d S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f S t a t e w h o w a s a s s i s t e d : . n

d i s c h a r g i n g h i s f u n c t i o n s b y t h e A s s i s t a n t P o l i t i c a l A g > ‘n t

5
a n d S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f S t a t e .

2 . O r d e r s B y T h e P o l i t i c a l A g e n t . N o . 8 d a t e d 1 5 . 5 * 1 8 9 . : .

3 . i b i d . N o . 1 6 d a t e d 2 1 . 8 . 1 8 9 3 .

4 * i b i d . N o . 2 9 d a t e d 1 1 . 1 . 1 9 0 4 .

5 . F . D . P . P o l i t i c a l A , O c t o b e r 1 9 0 7 , N o . 3 9 .
 I t might be noted that since the B r itis h assumption f

the h i l l adm inistration in Manipur, th e ir p o lic ie s were

designed to disrupt the unity in the state as represented

by the hillmen and the dw ellers o f the p la in s. I t had been

a lle g e d that the adm inistration o f the h i l l s by the Maharop

was u n satisfactory; and that the progress o f the p la in s toe

been attained at the cost o f that o f the h i l l s . ^ The &1: le­

gations were, however, resu lted from the B ritis h propaganda

to segregate the two major sections o f the s t a t e p o p u l a f n

the plainsmen and the h i l l trib e s .

I t was because o f the tra d itio n a l unity in the state ‘n

the trib e s had helped the king o f Manipur in the r e b e l 1: r.

o f 1891; sim ila rly the Kukis were a party to the k ii li n . r

7
o f the B r itis h o f f ic e r s at Mayangkhang. I t was th is tiu ■ '

to the B r itis h p o licy o f divide and r u le .

Rule For Administration Of

The H ill Tribes

The B r itis h Agents in Manipur a c tiv e ly worked to s e g re ­

gate the h i l l s from the v a lle y in the matters o f the ad: i n i

tratio n o f Manipur State. Arrangements were made to in tro du

two separate sets o f adm inistration ru le s fo r the va lie . an

the h i l l s . The Maharaja and the Manipur State Darbar were

barred from having any ju ris d ic tio n in matters o f hillmen.

6. ib id . N o.50.
7. ib id . No.39, lo c . c it .
S p e cia l care was taken to brin g about the desired re su lt
by in corp ora tin g ru le s under which the adm inistration o f
the h i l l s in Manipur was entrusted in the hands o f the
B r itis h European o f f i c e r s . The h i l l adm inistration was,
thus, c o n tro lle d e n tir e ly by the B ritis h o f f i c e r s s e le c ­
ted by the Government o f Assam, su b ject to in stru ctio n s
from the Government o f In d ia.

I t was a common featu re i n the h i l l s that disturbances

surfaced quickly* Under an i n e f f i c i e n t con trol o f the state
t e r r it o r y , the h i l l s served a s a place o f refuge fo r the
cu lp rits* The B r it is h agents b eliev ed that such a situ a tion
could be made sa fe by p la cin g the h i l l areas under d ir e c t
Q
co n tro l o f the B r itis h European o f f i c e r s . During the pe­
r io d o f the Regency Rule there was no adm inistration ru ies
fo r the h i l l areas o f the s ta te . The P o l i t i c a l Agent arid
Superintendent o f State performed the fu n ction s connected
w ith the adm inistration o f the h i l l trib es*

IttLth the tra n sfer o f power to the Native a u th o r itie s in

1907, a ru le fo r the adm inistration o f the h i l l s was framed
The rule was very b r i e f ; i t d id not introduce any new admi­
n is t r a tiv e au th ority fo r the region* I t might be characte­
rise d as a ru le enumerating the a d d ition a l p o s itio n ana
the powers and fu n ction s o f the V ice-P residen t o f the Darbs.
and the P o l i t i c a l Agent in m atters o f h i l l adm inistration
as against those o f the Maharaja and the Darbar.

8* F.D*P. External A, August 1907, N o.18.

 The main provisions o f the above mentioned ruin weiv
( i ) The administration o f the h i l l trib es o f Manipur wou
be entrusted to the Vice-President o f the Darbar. The Vi
President would have powers equivalent to those o f a 1st
Class Magistrate under Indian Criminal Procedure Code,!
He would try a ll cases in vo lvin g the h i l l trib es; (ii'

c u lp rit deserved a more serious punishment, the Vico-i n

would r e fe r the case to the P o lit ic a l Agent who mi ;ht : •
b e fit tin g judgement; ( i i i ) A ll sentences o f de-th, truss
tation and imprisonment fo r more than seven years would
require confirmation by the Lieutenant Governor o f i aoU
*

Bengal and Assam (la t e r Governor o f Assam); ( i v ) Aupe-lo

against the order o f the Vice-President might be pref er:
to the P o lit ic a l Agent; and against the order o f the
Agent to the Lieutenant Governor, within 30 days since r.
issue o f the orders; (v ) The records o f a l l the t r ia ls .
to be maintained with the statements o f the evidence ter.
( v i ) Witnesses were required to take oaths according to
tr ib a l customs; ( v i i ) The Vice-President would also try
cases in volvin g the trib e s . While tryin g such cases he .
be guided by the tr ib a l customs; ( v i i i ) The trib es would
no righ t o f appeal in matters o f c i v i l su it; ( i x ) ho It
cal Agent might c a ll any record o f cases already dispose
by the Vice-President fo r a revision o f the orders i f ne
ssary; and (x ) The P o lit ic a l Agent might r e fe r any
the Government o f Eastern Bengal and Assam whenever1 roue

* Since 1924 Assam became a separate province.

 I t might be pointed out that the idea o f keeping

Maharaja and the Darbar devoid o f any power in h i l i a f f

was based n eith er on convenience nor on ju s tic e . On the
o f framing a separate administration rules fo r the n i l !
Government o f India observed that Manipur State 'hire r
j u r i s d i c t i o n over the h i l l administration as the Vice-;
dent o f the Darbar, though a B r i t i s h o f f i c e r , ~<cted as

Manipur State O ffic ia l,a n d not as a B ritish O f fic ia l, w

9
administering the h ills . I t was also made clear that ..
would not be ju s tifie d to impose anything on the streng
the Sanad issued to the Raja in 1891. The Government; :i
viewed that the Sanad did not reserve any j u r i s d i c t i o n

Manipur to the B ritis h Government. I t only meant teat r

Raja was required to administer the state in accord since
instructions issued by the Government o f In d ia .10 Thus,
approving o f the rules mentioned above, the Government
India intimated the Government o f Eastern Bengal and As
that such rules might be treated as a continuation o f !
Manipur State Administration Rules, 190? (f o r the vallo
However, the Government o f India allowed the Vice-Presi
o f the Darbar to correspond d ire c tly to the Government
India on routine matters concerning the h i l l trin es. 1

9. F.D.P. P o lit ic a l A, June 1908, No.4.

10. ib id .
11. ib id .
12. F.D.P. External A, January 1903> No.66.
 While carrying out the administration o f the h i l l r-d in
as per the rules mentioned above, a va ila b le talen ts wer>.
u tilis e d . The adm inistrative au th orities exacted the loyal?;;,
and obedience o f the trib es by reso rtin g to coercive reami.n s.
Those who indulged in raiding others were severely punimcd.
Those who refused to work as ’ c o o lie s ' or pay th eir to.:-:',
were punished fo r th e ir e r r o r s . ^ The executive agencies ju
below the Vice-President were the Lam-Subedars and the , amo.....
As there was no p o lic e department fo r the h ills , the
and the Lam-Subedars were given the powers o f pollcemer .
administration o f the h i l l v illa g e s were mainly conduc ia ;.
through the Chiefs or Khullaknas o f the v illa g e s .

Mahara.ia's Powers Vis-A-Vis

Administration in The H ills

The f i r s t amendment to the Manipur Administration a _ •

was made in 1910. But, in sp ite o f the progress made oy •e
Raja during the 'probationary p e rio d ', no power in matt --c i

h i l l administration was extended to the Raja. Only an a.-ru'--:

was given to the e ffe c t that the Raja would be consulte-o .n
important matters o f the h i l l administration with attorn- m v

accommodate the wishes o f the Raja in so fa r as such wish* .-/ere

compatible with the orders o f the Government o f In d ia ."

Remarkable progress was made on the issue a f t e r the re'; ad

amendment o f the administration rules in 1916. I t had o; or.

13* ib id .
11+. F.D.P. P o lit ic a l A, September 1910, No.l6 ( l-lacl.z
incorporated in the administration rules that the ires;,

of the Darbar (the former Vice-President) should ad.i.in..

the hill tribes on behalf of the Raja. This was a signi

step recognising the fact that the Raja should have so:,

diction over his subjeats in the hills, which had ooea

since 1907. With such amendment, the Raja was allowed

express his views on the affairs in the hills.

The above extension of power to the Raja to the hi

further analysis, v/as of theoretical importance only. .

decisions of the Raja,both in the valley and the hill <

were subject to the approval of the Political Agent.

Raja was practically devoid of any power. Major Max we 1..

Political Agent in Manipur, once remarked that it was r

likely that the complete control over the hill trices

state would again be placed in the hands of the Native

It was only on the verge of the transfer of power in I:

from the British to the Indian hands that administrati

the hills was also transferred to the Maharaja of .;ani

10 August 19V?.

Opening 6f
Hill Sub-Divisions

The administrative arrangement of 1916 did not las

The outbreak of the Kuki Rebellion in 1917 'was an eye-

to the British authorities that the control of the nil

19. F.D.P. Foreign A, November 1892, No.1

 151

in Manipur was rather loose. The practice o f entrusting

administration o f the en tire h i l l areas to a single i,ar^
o f f i c e r , the Vice-President (la t e r President) o f the Dai'
was quite inadequate fo r smooth and e ffic ie n t administr
o f the h i l l tr ib e s . The p ractice o f having d ire c t confer
low paid Lambus with the trib es was, at times, unreliao
Since the days o f the Kuki R ebellion, the B ritish author'
f e l t that The Government o f In d ia 's decision not to int?
with the administration o f the h i l l trib e s in the riorth-
1c
region o f India needed a revision to ensure tig h t coo.
and s t r ic t supervision.

In 1919 just a fte r the reb e llio n was successfully

Mr.Cosgrave, the P o lit ic a l Agent in Manipur, undertook ■
in the h i l l areas o f the sta te. The main purpose o f the
was to have a reconnaisance o f the h i l l areas fo r openi:
h i l l sub-divisions and selection o f s ite s fo r headouar:-.
such sub-divisions. 1 As a re s u lt, four h i l l sub-di v is i
were created. They were ( i ) The North-East Sub-Divist
with Ukhrul as the headquarters; ( i i ) The North-Vest Sub
sion with headquarters at Tamenglong; ( i i i ) The South-1
Sub-Division with headquarters at Churachandpur; and (iv
Sadar Sub-Division with Imphal as the headquarters.

The administration o f each o f the sub-divisions, oxc

fo r the Sadar Sub-Division, was placed under a Sub-Divis-

16. A.S.P. Foreign Dept. September 1895> No. 9.

17. A.S.P. P o lit ic a l A, July 1920, No.1.
Officer of the r a n k o f Extra Assistant Commissioner

Divisional Officers were to b e selected and a p p o i n too ....

Government of A s s a m from amongst the B r i t i s h o fficers .

Assam Provincial Service Cadre. In respect of the dadar

Division, Imphal being its Headquarters, the a d m i n i s t r a

was to be entrusted to the P r e s i d e n t o f the D a r o a r . ho .

Sub-Divisional Of f i c e r was appointed f o r the S a d a r Cuo-

The Sub-Divisional Officers, in conducting the h ill off-

had to a c t u n d e r the g u i d a n c e and supervision of trie P r ­

of the D a r b a r and the P o l i t i c a l A g e n t in Manipur.

The a b o v e administrative arrangement for the h i 1.1 c

claim the m e r i t s o f r e m o v i n g the shortcomings r e s u i t i r r

the b e s t o w i n g o f the e n t i r e responsibilities of hill odi

t r a t i o n to a s i n g l e p a r t - t i m e office, i. e . , the Preside!

the Darbar, d e p e n d i n g on the l o w p a i d officials, cue L a

The i n c r e a s e of the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e agencies could a lso

close touch ana direct r e l a t i o n s betv/een the administra’

and their subjects. It could further claim t he ad von tag-,

the hill tribes could get their cases settled without

the trouble o f g o i n g to Imphal for the p u r p o s e . As the

Divisional Officers, more or less, permanent].;/ r e s i d e * ,

hill headquarters, they could better feel the d iffic u lt:

the tribes and bring about solutions of the p r o b l e m s mo

efficiently. It was considered that, to b r i n g the m ill

to the p a t h o f p r o g r e s s a n d to k e e p peace and o r d e r in

 153

h i l l s , a s a tisfa cto ry solu tion o f the pro bless o f improve­

ment o f communication, expansion o f education, extension
o f medical f a c i l i t i e s , etc,., was e s sen tia l.

From the secu rity point of. view. 13 armed outposts were
also maintained to guard the h i l l s against the danger of
recurrence o f unrest or r e v o lt. A l l these measures necessi­
tated extra amount, o f money. The payment o f the Sub-Divi­
sional O ffic e r s and th e ir o f f i c e establishments were made
18
out o f the sta te funds. I t was, th erefore, decided that
the h i l l budget should be delinked from that o f the v a lle y .
Separate budget fo r the h i l l s should be prepared a llo c a tin g
therein s u ffic ie n t funds in due consideration o f the deve­
lopment programmes required fo r the h ills * The to ta l cost c f
adm inistering the h i l l areas under the above arrangement was
19
estimated at about 1,25,000 rupees per year. The amount
was to be spent mainly in the o f f i c e establishment o f the
Sub-Divisional O ffic e r , establishment o f schools and dispen­
sa ries, improvement o f eonmunication f a c i l i t i e s , e tc .

The implementation o f the revised adm inistrative measure

put an additional fin an cial burden on the s ta te . The finan­
c ia l p o s itio n o f the state was tig h t as the state had to pay
to the Government o f India annually a sum o f 50,000 rupees,
on a recurring basis,, as trib u te; and 30,000 rupees fo r the
maintenance o f the Mao-Imphal road. Further, i t had to pay

18. Reid, Robert, op. c i t . p.83*

19* ib id .
annually an instalment of 60,000 rupees to liquidate th<

loan of 2,75,000 rupees granted to the state for rehabi.

tation after the flood damages of 1916-17.

The Political Agent in Manipur, appreciating the re-

financial difficulties of the state, expressed helplessi

in the matter of any immediate contribution towards tso

increase in the state expenditure after the new ad^inis"

tive changes. With a view to enabling the State to imp.

the administrative reforms mentioned above, the Politic:

Agent urged the Government of India that (i) payment of

annual tribute might be exempted in recognition of tne

loyalty of the Raja and the aid rendered by tne people

the Great War of 1914; (ii) the State might be relieved

the contribution of 30,000 rupees for upkeepment of too

Mao-Imphal road; and (iii) the annual instalment of O.-,

rupees for the liquidation of the flood reparation loan

might be reduced to 30,000 rupees.

The Government of India complied with the request _

exemption of the contribution for maintenance of the la-

Imphal road and reduction of the annual instalment to 1

rupees. As regards the exemption of the tribute the lev;

rnent of India had reservations. It was agreed that the

bute should be reduced to 5,000 rupees,as recommended b;.

Government of Assam, so that the balance could be speu":

20
development of the hill areas. At the beginning

20. ibid, p.85

concession was granted for a period of 10 years only,

extended for another period of three years.

21 On 1b O c >

191 9» Sir Nicholas Beatson Bell, the Chief Commissioner

Assam, proclaimed the operation of the new scheme for on

22
stration of the hills. Mr.William Shaw was appointed

Divisional Officer at Tamenglong Headquarters; hr.S.C.

at Churac&andpur Headquarters and Mr.Peter for the Head­

quarters at Ukhrul. The Sub-Divisional Officers were one

raged to study Manipuri language for direct communicate -

2S
the tribes of the hills, -'most of whom knew Manipuri.

Abolition of
Hill Sub-Divisions

The new scheme of 1919 for the administration of a.

areas succeeded in maintaining peace and order in the o

The opening of the hill sub-divisions and subsequent sto

tioning of armed outposts at various explosive places in

hills brought about tranquility. By 1922 conditions in

hills were considered to be quite normal. Sensing no

bility of a future outbreak of troubles from the I'u,.is,

policy of general clemency was adopted. All the Kvhi CVh.

arrested in connection with the Kuki rebellion were rc1_

The hills lay low for about a decade without any distore

21. A.S.P. Political A, September 1930, No.219, ( thr.

rate continued till it was exempted in 1995 -bc).
22. ibid., July 1920, No.38.
23. ibid.
24. Reid, Robert, op.cit. p.86.
 1156
Such apparent lo y a lty of. the h i l l trib e s induced the autho­
r i t i e s to re la x control over them*.

In 1929 the vacancy caused by the tran sfer o f M r.Peter,

the Sub-Divisional O ffic e r a t Ukkrul, could not be f i l l e d
due to dearth o f o f f ic e r s in the Assam P ro vin cial Service
cadre* By then, the Government o f Assam decided to reduce
the number o f o f f ic e r s to be le n t to Manipur as Sub-Divi-
25
sional O ffic e r s from 3 to 2 only* ^ With an in ten tion to
reduce permanently the number o f Sub-Divisional O ffic e r s ,
the Government o f Manipur was also instructed to consider
a red is trib u tio n o f the h i l l areas in to sub-divisions. 0

In view, o f the demand from the President o f the Darbar

to appoint a fu ll-tim e Sub-Divisional O ffic e r fo r the Sadar
27
H ill Sub-Division, the actual shortage o f o f f ic e r s to be
appointed from the Assam Service Cadre fo r employment in
Manipur was 2 (two) including the vacancy created by the
transfer o f Mr*Peter. The President o f the Darbar was a l­
ready overburdened as he had to discharge the dual responsi­
b i l i t i e s o f being the President o f the Darbar fo r the valley
adating s tr a ti on; and also o f being, the adm inistrator o f the
h i l l s on b eh alf o f the Maharaja* I t was a practice that two
Sub-Di v isio n a l O ffic e r s were deputed to Imphal fo r two months
2ft
each in a year to help the President o f the Darbar*

25* A.S.P* P o lit ic a l A, September 1930, No*7.

26* ib id . N0 . 3 *
27* ib id . No *8*
28* ib id *
 > 57

Under the above stated circumstances, the President ■ i

the Darbar, in consultation with the Maharaja, proposed :
new plan fo r administration o f the h i l l areas, the sche..c
comprised a* ( i ) a b o litio n o f the four h i l l sub- iv i.
( i i ) placing o f the two availab le Sub-Divisional O ffice w
Imphal to assist the President in administering the ea~'l re
h i l l areas; ( i i i ) withdrawal o f the armed outposts from she
h i l l headquarters; ( i v ) stationin g o f s u ffic ie n t forces "t.
Imphal to meet any disturbances in the h ills ; and iv) h .c r •
o f the number o f days fo r the tour o f the President !■ .. t
i i i l l s from 20 to 60 and that o f the Sub-Divisional O i i ' i a ■;
2Q
from 140 to 175 days. '

The new scheme pror^osed meant a return to the eld

o f h i l l administration with the addition o f two assis t
help the President. However, the scheme could claim tee ev
tages that (a) the President would be able to dispose
cases o f the Sadar H ill Sub-Division more e f fic ie n t ly ■>;e
ju diciou sly; (b) the separate budgets o f the four hill mu-

d ivision s could be amalgamated into one which would r e ;;

works o f checking the b i l l s and correspondences; (c ) tii ■■■•;•
would be a great fin an cial saving as the o f f ic e eebvtiL -
ments o f the Sub-Divisional O ffic e r s would no longer oe in
existence; and (d) the number o f correspondences betwor
H ill O ffic e and the Sub-Divisional O ffic e s would be r e ■
. r-

pa ib id
 158

no more, and i t would further reduce the volume of work f

the H i l l O ffic e .

While appreciating the advantages, the perceived d ii'i'i-

c u lt ie s involved in the scheme could not be ignored. The

establishment o f the h i l l su b -d iv isio n s was the outcome . f a

h is t o r ic a l necessity at one stage. The p ro b a b ility o f the

h i l l trib e s becoming h o stile again as a re su lt o f the sfo lo­

tion o f the su b-d ivision s and the withdrawal o f the armeu

outposts could not be altogeth er ruled out. The implementa­

tion o f the scheme meant lo s s o f close contact between tne

administrative o f f i c e r s and the t r ib e s . In the absence of th

armed outposts the trib e s could think o f a return to the: a

e a r l i e r p osition o f i n t e r t r i b a l feuds. But the P o l i t i c a l

auth orities in the state argued that the negative aspect. f

the schmae were counterbalanced by the fact that Imphal ’."it

the centre of trade and commerce with the h i l l s and that.

communications in the h i l l s had been much improved.

to'

The government of In dia, on the recommendation of the

Government of Assam, approved o f the scheme for a nerioo ->f

three years as an experimental m e a s u r e . T h e Government f

Assam conveyed such approval to the P o l i t i c a l Agent in i n :

with the special in stru ction that the Assam R ifle s oosteu • r

the h i l l s should be withdrawn with the a b olitio n of tie " i

32
su b-division s.

30 . i b i d .
3 1 . ibid. No.15.
32. i b i d . N o.l6 .
 159

The above scheme was implemented in January 1930. The

Assam R ifle s posted at the outposts were also withdrawn as
per instructions* But, no sooner had the new scheme been
introduced,, than fresh disturbances occurred in the north­
west h i l l s o f Manipur* Apparently, the h i l l trib e s , with
l i t t l e knowledge o f the adm inistrative machinery in the
h i l l s , thought that a ft e r the withdrawal o f the Sub-Divi­
sional O ffic e r s and the armed posts, they were at lib e r ty to
make th e ir own decision. Thus the past feuds among the trib es,
which had been subdued fo r long, reappeared. General panic
among the tr ib e s , apprehending fresh in t e r tr ib a l fig h ts , had
spread again, s p ec ia lly among the Nagas and the Kukis. This
resu lted in the Naga Unrest o f 1930-31*

Reopening O f R i l l Sub-D ivisions &

Inclusion O f Manipuri O ffic ia l
In H ill Administration

With the outbreak o f the. Naga Unrest in 1930-31* views

were expressed by the p o lit ic a l au th orities in Manipur in
favour o f a r e v iv a l o f the h i l l Sub-Divisions including the
station in g o f the armed outposts. The arrangement fo r a b o li­
tio n o f the h i l l Sub-Divisions did not prove an unqualified
success* The withdrawal o f the Sub-Divisional O ffic e r s with
the armed outposts was considered to be the immediate cause
o f the Naga Unrest o f 1930-31* The incident in e v ita b ly nece­
ssita ted a review o f the Government p o lic y in th is regard.
 A modified sheme was proposed to cope with the sir.

I t envisaged the r e v iv a l o f the North Eastern and the

Western Sub-Divisions with headquarters at Ukhrul and
long re s p e c tiv ely . Two availab le B ritis h o ffic e r s were
posted at the two headquarters as Assistants to the Pr­
o f the Darbar; while the South West Sub-Division and 1
Sub-Division were to be kept d ire c tly under the Preoi :
the Darbar who was to be responsible fo r the en tire hi.
A third Assistant, a Manipuri o f f ic e r , was also to ue
to a s s is t the President in administering the Sadar Sub

Thus the h i l l areas were to be administered by the Pro

o f the Darbar with the help o f three Assistants who wo
d ire c tly under the President. I t was proposed that the
scheme would be operative from 1 A p ril 1953 which :me
ment o f India also approved.

The B ritish au th orities had applied a t r ia l and er

method in the h i l l a ffa ir s o f Manipur. The inclusion
Manipuri o f f i c i a l in the h i l l administration was, prob
resu lt o f such a p o lic y . Such inclusion was also in fle
the objections raised by the Darbar to the appointment
o ffic e r s from outside the State on deputation on groun
high expenditure. The Darbar stated that equally quail.

persons were availab le in the S t a t e . T h e accommotio ti

such a plea was not d i f f i c u l t in view o f the non-avail
o f o ffic e r s in the Assam Service Cadre fo r appointment
Manipur State.

33. Foreign and P o lit ic a l Dept. F ile No.128-P/l933, No

3k- Manipur State Darbar Resolutions .No.2(a) dated 21
 By 1928-29 the Maharaja and. the Darbar had expressed
th e ir desire o f taking over the en tire h i l l admini s tr a ti on
o f the state* However,the Government o f India did not agree
to i t * They suspected that disturbances, in the h ills would
increase i f the h i l l adm inistration were entrusted to the
Maharaja and the Darbar* The B ritis h a u th o ritie s appeared
to ignore the fa ct that i t was during th e ir administration
o f the h i l l s that the Kuki Rebellion o f 1917 and the Naga
Unrest o f 1930 occurred in the state*

The Manipur H ill Peoples1 (Adm inistration)

Regulation* 19k7

The rule fo r administration o f the h i l l s e ffe c t iv e from

1 A p r il 1933 lasted fo r about 1if years. By 19Zf6-47 the
question o f granting independence to India was s e ttle d . The
B ritis h , having decided to qu it India, changed th e ir e a r lie r
p o lic ie s towards the h i l l adm inistration o f Manipur State.
With the popular demand o f a responsible government in the
State, the B ritis h Government agreed to the framing of a
State Constitution providing fo r the amalgamation of the
H ills and the p lain s adm inistrations. The Mann pur Adminis -
tration Rules introduced in 19V?» before the framing o f the
State Constitution, also provided fo r the amalgamation of
the two administrations* The Maharaja had also declared that
the h i l l administration would be f it t e d in to the general
adm inistration in the in te re s t o f the in tegration of the
 162

35
State and fo r a b e tte r standard o f the state adm inistration.

The f in a l p o s itio n about, the r u le s fo r adm inistration o f the

h i l l s was awaited a s the Manipur State Constitution was a t

the d ra ft stage*

The Maharaja formed the Constitution Making Committee in

January 1947* However, the fin a l d ra ft o f the State C onstitu ­

tio n was delayed because o f some disagreement between * he

Maharaja and the members o f the C onstitution Making Committee

on c e rta in p rin c ip le s o f the con stitution* The Government f

Assam took such a delay a s a t a c t ic a l move o f the Maharaja to

evade the framing o f the State Constitution in the hope of

re v iv in g h is a u to c ra tic r u le with, the lapse o f the B r itis h

Paramoun.tey*^ The B r it is h Government, therefore, made a

separate r u le fo r the adm inistration o f the h i l l s known as

the Manipur State H i ll Peoples* (Adm inistration) R egu la tio n ,

37
1947* I t was enforced from 10 August 1947* I t was consi -

dered that the enforcement, o f such a ru le fo r the h i l l s was

necessary in view, o f the impending amalgamation o f the H ills

and the. Valley adm inistrations.

The Regulation fo r the h i l l s provided that (i) the

re s p o n s ib ility fo r adm inistration o f the h i l l people would

35* Resistance, 8 F eb.1977, C olonial History o f Manipur-56,

l e t t e r No*760 P I I - I dated 20 November 1946 from the
Maharaja to the Governor o f Assam.
36* M inistry Of S tates, PR Branch* F ile No*43-PR/1947, Note
by the Under Secy to the Govt* o f In dia dated 19*9* 1 9 *
37* Resistance, 12 July 1977, C olonial History o f Manipur-V6,
Order No* 4 3 P dated 8 August 1947 by the Maharaja.
be vested in the Maharaja in Council. The powers of the

hill administration would be exercised in accordance wi th

the State Constitution and the Manipur State Hill Peoples'

(Administration) Regulation,19^7; (ii) appointment to all

the executive posts in the hill administration should be

made in accordance with the rules for the Manipur State

Appointment Board; (iii) there would be three levels of

local authorities in the hills : the Village Authority, the

Circle Authority and the Sub-Divisional Authority, with a

Council in each of which the Khullakpas. the Circle O f f i c e r

and the Sub-Divisional Officers respectively would be the

heads. The Minister of the State Council in charge of Hi LI

administration would be the Central executive authority ;

(iv) administrative powers would be divided between the

local authorities in the hills and the State Government,

specially, in matters of Education, Public Works, M e d i c a l ,

Revenue, Forest and maintenance of public law and o r d e r ;

(v) the Courts in the hills would be classified into : the

Court of the Village Authority, the Court of the Circle

Authority, the Sub-Divisional Courts and the Hill Bench a t

Imphal; (vi) the Maharaja in Council might entertain a oeti

tion for mercy in cases of death sentences. The final o r d e r

of death sentence should be subject to confirmation by the

Agent to the Crown Representative in Assam who came to be

known as the Agent to the Dominion of India after Indian

zs
independence on 15 August 1947,

38. Ministry Of States, File No.z+3-PR/l9V7» op.cit. N o . 8.

 I t might be noted that a ft e r the introduction o f the
Manipur State Administration Rules, 19*t7, the h i l l s and the
v a lle y administrations were amalgamated under a sin gle p o li­
t ic a l au th ority. Two H ill nominees were to be included in
the State Council* Due weight was to be given to the views
o f the H ill Members in matters re la tin g to the h i l l trib e s .

The Manipur State H ill Peoples* (Adm inistration) Regula­

tio n , 194? > was a safeguard fo r the h i l l trib es follow in g
the u n ific a tio n o f the h i l l s and the v a lle y adm inistrations.
In the exercise o f executive, fin a n cia l and ju d ic ia l matters
the lo c a l a u th orities played an important r o le . However, the
h i l l budget was passed by the State Council; and the Chief
Court at Imphal was given the power to review cases already
disposed o f by the H ill Bench* As a safeguard against the
autocratic, powers o f the Maharaja, i t was stipulated that
s u ffic ie n t provision should be made in the new Manipur State
Constitution, to include h i l l rep resen tatives in the executive
authority o f the state;, and a more or le a s independent -Judj-
XQ
clary in the h ills * ^ In a sense, the introduction o f the
ffiLll Peoples* Regulation, with e ffe c t from 1.0 August 1947
brought about some s o rt o f democratic rule in the h ills .
Under the new. regulations, the adm inistrative authority n

39* M .S.L., Cabin 29, f i l e No*13 o f 1947,. Note by F*F*

Pearson, President, Manipur State Darbar, n*d* (Note
on the Constitutional changes in Manipur with p a r ti­
cular reference to the administration o f the h i l l s . ’
 165

the h i l l s was based on the Council model. The e a r l i e r system

o f a sin g le executive was shopped. At a l l the le v e ls o f the

V illa g e Authority, the C irc le Authority and the Sub-Divi -

sion al Authority* Councils were set up in which the local

represen tatives were included*

Handing Over O f The

H i ll Adm inistration

Since 1916 the President o f the Darbar had been adminis­

terin g the h i l l s on b e h a lf o f the Maharaja. The in t r o d u c t i o n

o f the Manipur Adm inistration Rules, 1947 with e f f e c t from

1 July 1947 marked the a b o lit io n o f the State Darbar. In

place o f the Darbar, a State Council was e stablish ed . ,nhe

former President o f the Darbar was made the Chief M inister o f

**
the new State Council. In the absence o f the nominees retire -

senting the h i l l people, the Chief M in ister was entrusted

with the h i l l a f f a i r s on b e h a lf o f the Maharaja in Counc. .

P r io r to the implementation o f the Manipur Administration

Rules, 1947 and the introduction o f the H i ll Peoples' (Admi­

n is tra tio n ) Regulation, 1947, the Maharaja could not convince

him self that he was also associated with the adm inistration

o f the h i l l a f f a i r s o f the s ta te . The President o f the :;tate

Darbar being in d ire ct charge o f the h i l l a f f a i r s and 'he

powers o f the Maharaja being always subject to the approval

** Mr. F .F . Pearson became the f i r s t Chief M in ister.

 166

o f the P o lit ic a l Agent, the Maharaja f e l t that his ro le in

the h i l l adm inistration was only nominal* I t was a fte r the
introduction o f the H ill Peoples* R egu lation,1947 that the
Maharaja considered him self to he in d ire c t charge o f the
h i l l adm inistration, as the two sets o f the v a lle y and the
h i l l adm inistrations were brought under the same p o lit ic a l
authority, i . e . , the Maharaja and h is Council.

A function was organised on 10 August 1947 fo r forma.!

LUj
handing over o f the h i l l adm inistration to the Maharaja.
The P o lit ic a l Agent, however, did not attend the function
on the ground that no fresh handing over o f the h i l l admi­
n istra tio n to the Maharaja was necessary. According to nim,
the h i l l adm inistration was purely under the charge o f the
Maharaja since 191S .^

H ill Adm inistration Under

The State Constitution

While forming the Constitution Making Committee, the

Maharaja had planned to get equal representation from the
h i l l s and the v a lle y . liv e members from the h i l l s were to
be included in the C onstitution Making Committee as against
f iv e from the v a lle y and another fiv e from the o f f i c i a l si do.

4P. i b id . , D..0..letter N0.255-P I I - I dated 9.8.1947 from

the Maharaja to the P o lit ic a l Agent.
41. ib id ., L e tte r No.8/52 dated 9.8.1947 from the P o l i t i ­
cal Agent to the Maharaja.
 16?

But, i n s e le c tin g the Members from, the h i l l s , the p rin cip le

++
o i nomination, was follow ed. The h i l l nominees were : Mr,

A.Daihfc, Mr, Thangkhopao Kip gen, Mr,Teba Kilong, Mr.Phanit

Phan, and Mr, Tengkham* Two M in isters representing the hill

people were a lso to be included i n the Interim Council. The

two se a ts remained vacant fo r some time, due to the d i f f i c u l ­

t ie s o f se le c tin g persons acceptable to a l l the t r ib e s . In

th e ir absence, the C h ief M in ister was discharging the res­

p o n s ib i li t ie s o f h i l l admi n.i a tra tlo n . Later on, Mr. Teba Ki­

lo n g and Major Khathing were nominated as H i ll members in

the Council.

A ft e r the Manipur State C onstitution came into force,

there was provision fo r appointing two M in isters from the

hillmen out o f a to ta l o f s ix , excluding the Chief M in ister.

In the State L e g is la tiv e Assembly there were 18 seats fo r

the h i l l people; while there were JO fo r the va lle y and 3

fo r the Muhamadans,^While adm inistering the h i l l a f f a i r s ,

s t r i c t adherence to the State Constitution, the H ill Peonies’

Regulation, the Manipur State Courts' A c t ,1947 and the rules

governing the Manipur State Appointment Board, 1947, etc.,

ensured. Under the p rov isio n s o f a c lu s te r o f these

Acts and Rules, the executive and the ju d ic ia l a u th o ritie s

o f the lo c a l u n its i n the h i l l s were guaranteed complete

autonomy within th eir ju ris d ic t io n s *

++ Election was considered unpracticable fo r the h i l l s .

42. Manipur State Constitution A ct, 194?» Chapter IV,
A r t ic le 17*