Five prominent personalities of Manipur’s judicial and legal fraternity have submitted a strongly worded representation-cum-memorandum to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, raising serious constitutional objections to the Office Memorandum issued on November 26, 2025, by the Deputy Director (Budget), Ministry of Finance, regarding the proposal for a “Separate Budget for Hill Areas.”
The memorandum, signed by Retired District & Sessions Judge Aribam Noutuneshwari Devi, and senior advocates Sorokhaibam Rabindra Singh, Mangshatabam Manglem Singh, Okram Inaobi Singh and Irengbam Jugeshwar Singh, terms the Office Memorandum “unconstitutional, illegal, non-est, and ultra vires,” alleging that it is based on a representation that has bypassed mandatory constitutional procedures.
The signatories said Article 371C of the Constitution and the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, provide a strict, mandatory and non-negotiable channel for all matters related to the administration and development of Hill Areas: every such matter must go through the Governor, who alone is empowered to submit reports or recommendations to the President.
The memorandum warns that no individual, group, or private body is constitutionally allowed to correspond directly with the President or the Union authorities on Hill Area matters. Any such attempt, it states, amounts to acting as a “parallel constitutional authority” and represents a “grave constitutional impropriety” that undermines the Governor’s powers.
The group contends that the controversial Office Memorandum suffers from “fundamental constitutional defects,” particularly on account of its having been issued during President’s Rule in Manipur. They contend that bypassing the Governor during President’s Rule is a “double constitutional violation,” since under Article 356, the Governor becomes the sole administrative authority.
They also contend that the move to explore or create a “separate Hills budget” has no constitutional sanction, as such restructuring requires the Governor’s report under Article 371C, consultation with the Hill Areas Committee and proper legislative procedures. Allowing this precedent, they warn, could “fragment State authority, distort federalism and erode the constitutional safeguards for Hill Areas.”
Terming the Office Memorandum a “threat to the federal structure and unity of India”, the signatories have urged the Governor to intervene immediately and recommend that the President direct the Ministry of Finance to withdraw or supersede the memorandum to “restore constitutional compliance”.
The memorandum concludes by declaring that the submission has been made “in good faith,” solely in order to protect constitutional order and prevent any instances of long-term institutional damage.