Manipur Bill: Renaming Places Without Approval to Be Penalized

The Manipur assembly has approved a bill aiming to designate the renaming of places without proper authorization as a punishable offence.

Presented by Chief Minister N Biren Singh as ‘The Manipur Names of Places Bill, 2024’, it received unanimous support during the assembly session on Monday.

Expressing the government’s commitment to safeguarding historical and cultural heritage, Chief Minister Singh emphasized the need to preserve the legacy bestowed by ancestors. He asserted on social media platform X after the bill’s passage that unauthorized renaming or misuse of place names would not be tolerated, promising stringent legal consequences for offenders.

According to the bill’s provisions, individuals found guilty of renaming villages or places without government consent could face a maximum three-year imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.

The Chief Minister elaborated that the legislation entails the establishment of a committee responsible for approving any proposed changes to place names within the northeastern state. This committee would also oversee alterations to the names of hills, lakes, rivers, historical sites, and medical institutions.

Addressing the assembly, Chief Minister Singh highlighted instances where places like Churachandpur were referred to as Lamka and Kangpokpi as Kangui, emphasizing the significance of rectifying such discrepancies. He confirmed that the state government had already revoked all unauthorized name changes and stressed that such actions would no longer be tolerated.