The next hearing is scheduled for September 15, 2025. All eyes are on the High Court, which must now decide whether to enforce its own prior directives and hold the defiant officials accountable.
TFM Report
A simmering bureaucratic standoff in Manipur has erupted into a full-blown legal and political controversy, as the Sub-Registrar (HQ), Imphal, stands accused of wilfully defying government orders and judicial directives regarding land sale deed registrations. At the heart of the storm is a series of legal reforms aimed at simplifying and democratizing property transactions—reforms that remain largely unimplemented due to administrative inertia.
The Defiance: Sub-Registrar Ignores Government Mandate
According to a formal complaint filed by Advocate Okram Nutankumar Singh on August 11, 2025, the Sub-Registrar (HQ), Imphal, has allegedly refused to comply with the Office Memorandum dated April 28, 2025, which directed all registration offices to implement the Manipur Regulation of Sale Deed Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2023. These rules, published in the official gazette on March 27, 2023, were designed to replace the restrictive and controversial Office Memorandum of July 7, 2021.
Despite clear instructions, the Sub-Registrar’s office allegedly continues to enforce the rescinded 2021 memorandum, which mandates:
- Production of Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC)
- Police verification of buyers
- Approval by a Cabinet Sub-Committee
This refusal has led to a complete halt in sale deed registrations under the new framework, undermining both legal reforms and public trust.
The Reform: 2023 Amendment Rules and Their Promise
The 2023 amendment was a landmark shift in Manipur’s property registration landscape. It removed arbitrary conditions and introduced a more inclusive process:
- Indigenous-to-non-indigenous transfers require local body resolutions
- Permanent residents, even if non-indigenous, are eligible for registration
- Government override is permitted when local resolutions are unavailable
These changes were prompted by a Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 36 of 2021) filed by Nutankumar Singh, which the High Court disposed of in July 2023, acknowledging that the amendment addressed the petitioner’s concerns.
The Legal Pushback: Writ Petition and Court Intervention
Frustrated by the lack of implementation, Nutankumar filed W.P.(C) No. 203 of 2025, seeking a writ of mandamus to enforce the amended rules. The High Court, in a hearing on March 12, 2025, issued notices to the State Government and other respondents. The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate M. Rakesh, argued that continued enforcement of the 2021 memorandum violates Articles 14 and 300A of the Constitution of India, as well as the Doctrine of Subordinate Legislation.
The State’s response—that local bodies were not functional—was swiftly countered with evidence that Gram Panchayats and Municipal Councils had been reactivated through administrative committees and caretaker appointments.
The Fallout: Public Inconvenience and Institutional Breakdown
The Sub-Registrar’s defiance has had tangible consequences. These include citizens face delays and denials in property transactions; legal reforms remain paper tigers, unenforced on the ground; and judicial authority is undermined, raising concerns of contempt.
Nutankumar’s application to register a sale deed for homestead land in Uripok village was rejected, despite fulfilling all requirements under the new rules. His petition calls for disciplinary action against the Sub-Registrar and immediate enforcement of the 2023 amendment.
What’s at Stake: Rule of Law vs. Administrative Resistance
This case is more than a bureaucratic dispute—it’s a litmus test for governance in Manipur. If statutory rules published in the gazette can be ignored by subordinate officials, the very foundation of legal accountability is at risk.
Legal experts warn that continued defiance could trigger contempt proceedings and erode public confidence in the state’s administrative machinery.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 15, 2025. All eyes are on the High Court, which must now decide whether to enforce its own prior directives and hold the defiant officials accountable. As the legal battle unfolds, the citizens of Manipur wait for clarity, justice, and the restoration of lawful governance in land transactions.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 16, 2025. All eyes are on the High Court, which must now decide whether to enforce its own prior directives and hold the defiant officials accountable. As the legal battle unfolds, the citizens of Manipur wait for clarity, justice, and the restoration of lawful governance in land transactions.