Imphal, September 19: The Manipur government has issued a notification prohibiting the registration of deeds for the transfer of land from indigenous people to outsiders. The order, which came into immediate effect, aims to safeguard indigenous land rights in the state.

According to the notification by the Land Resources Department, no land transfer—whether by sale, gift, or mortgage—will be registered in favor of non-indigenous persons. However, an exception has been made for permanent residents of Manipur, allowing them to acquire land from indigenous persons under prescribed conditions.

Those intending to purchase land must first apply through the deputy commissioner of the concerned district, whose office will verify applications before forwarding them to the Land Resources Department. An internal committee will further scrutinize the applications, which will then be presented to a panel of officers for final recommendations.

The order also stipulates that any land transaction above ₹2 lakh must be completed either through cheque or direct account transfer, ensuring financial transparency. Officials clarified that the directive falls under the Manipur Regulation of Sale Deed Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2023.