Heritage sites at Mayang Imphal: MHRC directs protective measures after prolonged administrative delay

The Manipur Human Rights Commission has directed the State Archaeology Department to initiate protective measures for two historically significant heritage sites at Mayang Imphal following prolonged administrative inaction on a citizen’s representation seeking statutory protection.
The matter arose from a grievance submitted on August 21, 2025 by Asem Roshan Singh, a resident of Mayang Imphal, through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The representation sought preservation and legal protection of Sati Khongnang at Sapam Leikai and Meikibi Khongnang at Konchak Maning Leikai, two heritage banyan trees associated with historical, cultural and women’s heritage significance.
Acting on the grievance, the Archaeological Survey of India, Aizawl Circle, forwarded the representation on August 26, 2025 to the Superintendent of State Archaeology, Government of Manipur, for necessary action and submission of a report. However, despite the official referral, no written inspection report or action-taken communication was issued for a considerable period. Although a field visit by the State Archaeology Department was later scheduled, it was reportedly postponed a few hours before the appointed time without any stated reason or indication of a revised date, and no further written outcome was communicated thereafter.
In view of the continued inaction, a complaint was filed before the Manipur Human Rights Commission, which registered the case as MHRC Complaint Case No. 54/14/15/2025. By an interim order dated December 23, 2025, the Acting Chairperson of the Commission took cognizance of the complaint, noted the heritage and cultural importance of the sites, acknowledged the prompt handling of the matter by the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India, and issued notice to the Superintendent of State Archaeology, Government of Manipur, seeking a response.
After examining the report placed before it, the Acting Chairperson of the Commission, in an order dated January 29, 2026, observed that the protection of heritage sites requires statutory procedures such as physical surveys, verification of historical and cultural value, and scrutiny of land and revenue records. The Commission subsequently disposed of the complaint with a direction to the respondent authority to take necessary steps to protect the two heritage sites within a period of three months and to submit a compliance report before the Commission.