IMPHAL, June 19: The Government of Manipur has issued a firm directive mandating all government departments and authorities to strictly comply with the provisions of The Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024. The notification was issued by the Secretariat of the Land Resources Department via an Office Memorandum on June 18.

According to the memorandum, The Manipur Names of Places Act, 2024 was published in the Extraordinary Gazette on March 15, 2024, and came into effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette of Manipur. Under this law, the naming or renaming of any place within the state requires the prior concurrence of the Land Resources Department, Government of Manipur.

To facilitate the implementation of the Act, the state government constituted a Place Names Committee through an official order on December 19, 2024. The Committee has been tasked with submitting reports and recommendations to the government on matters relating to naming or alteration of names of places.

“All concerned departments and authorities are hereby informed to strictly adhere to the guidelines established under the aforementioned Act,” the memorandum states. It further warns that any violation of the law will attract punitive measures under Section 13 of the Act — including imprisonment of not less than one year, which may extend to three years, and a fine ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh.

The directive also urges all administrative departments and Deputy Commissioners across the state to ensure strict compliance with the Act to maintain uniformity and legal validity in the naming of places in Manipur.