Imphal: A citizen representation seeking statutory protection of two historically significant heritage sites of Mayang Imphal—Sati Khongnang (Sapam Leikai) and Meikibi Khongnang (Konchak Maning Leikai)—has resulted in formal directions by the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to the State Archaeology Department to initiate protective measures.
The matter originated with a grievance filed on 21 August 2025 by Asem Roshan Singh, resident of Mayang Imphal, through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, seeking preservation and statutory protection of the two heritage banyan trees of historical, cultural, and women’s heritage significance.
Following the grievance, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Aizawl Circle, vide official communication dated 26 August 2025, forwarded the representation to the Superintendent, State Archaeology, Government of Manipur, for necessary action and submission of a report.
Despite the official referral, no written inspection report or action-taken communication was conveyed for a considerable period. Although a field visit was subsequently scheduled by the State Archaeology Department, the said visit was postponed on the scheduled day a few hours prior, without assigning any reason and without communicating a revised date. No further written outcome was thereafter communicated.
In view of the prolonged inaction, a complaint was filed before the Manipur Human Rights Commission, which registered the matter as MHRC Complaint Case No. 54/14/15/2025.
By an interim order dated 23 December 2025, the Hon’ble Acting Chairperson of the Commission took cognizance of the complaint, noted the cultural and heritage significance of the sites, acknowledged the prompt action of the Ministry of Culture and ASI, and issued notice to the Superintendent, State Archaeology, Government of Manipur, directing submission of a response.
Subsequently, after examining the report placed before it, the Hon’ble Acting Chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, vide order dated 29 January 2026, observed that protection of heritage sites involves statutory procedures including physical survey, verification of historical and cultural value, and examination of land and revenue records.
The Commission disposed of the complaint with a direction to the respondent authority to take necessary steps to protect the two historical sites within a period of three months and to submit a compliance report before the Commission.
The Commission’s orders place the matter under official monitoring and constitute institutional recognition of the heritage value of Sati Khongnang and Meikibi Khongnang.
