KHOIROM BIPINCHANBIPINCHANDRA SINGH DRA SINGHDate: 2026.03.20 Item No. 7 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL MC(PIL) No. 8 of 2026

1. The Commissioner / Secretary Water Resource, Government of Manipur, Old Secretariat Building, Babupara, PO & PS Imphal, Manipur – 795001.

2. The State of Manipur represented by the Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, Old Secretariat Building, Babupara, PO & PS Imphal, Manipur – 795001.

3. The Chief Engineer, Water Resource Department, Government of Manipur, PWD Complex, Khuyathong, PO &

PS Imphal, Manipur – 795001.

… Applicants - Versus -

1. Keisham Meghachandra Singh, MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) of Wangkhem Assembly Constituency in Manipur Legislative Assembly, aged about 52 years old S/o (Late) Keisham Meghachandra Singh, Yairipok Bishnunaha, Yairipok, P.O. Yairipok, P.S. Yairipok, Thoubal District, Manipur – 795149.

… Respondent

2. The Union of Ministry of Jal Shakti, represented by the Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India, CR Section, Room No. 224, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi – 110001.

3. The Secretary to the Hon’ble Governor of Manipur, Raj Bhavan, Manipur, Imphal P.O. & P.S. Imphal, Manipur –

795001.

… Proforma Respondents B E F O R E HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A. GUNESHWAR SHARMA For the applicant : Mr. Lenin Hijam, Advocate General, Manipur instructed by Ms. Thanyomi Keishing, Advocate For the respondents : Mr. N. Bupenda, Advocate for R – 1 Date of hearing : 20.03.2026 Date of judgment & order: 20.03.2026 JUDGMENT & ORDER (ORAL)

[M. Sundar, CJ]

[1] Public Interest Litigation (PIL) being PIL No. 29 of 2025 was disposed of by this Court vide order dated 17.11.2025 which reads as follows:

Order dated 17.11.2025 -

‘[1] Captioned ‘Public Interest Litigation’(‘PIL’ for the sake of brevity) has been filed by a sitting member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly(MLA, for the sake of brevity) representing Wangkhem Constituency Assembly.

[2] Mr. N. Bupenda Meitei, learned counsel for PIL petitioner submits that subject matter of captioned PIL is ‘Mapithel Dam which is also known as Thoubal Multipurpose Project’ situate in Thoubal district (‘said Dam’ and the opening of the said Dam on 14.09.2025 night/early hours of 15.09.2025.

[3] Mr. N. Bupenda, Meitei, learned counsel for PIL petitioner, adverting to the case file and the annexures thereat submits that the afore-referred opening of the said Dam was without prior information to the local populace/citizenry living downstream. Learned counsel submits that there is no information through media such as television, radio, newspaper or other social media prior to opening of the said Dam on the aforesaid date and that resulted in inundation and loss of several acres of agricultural paddy fields, fish farms and human lives besides inundation of thousands of houses and loss of property.

[4] Learned counsel for PIL petitioner, Mr. N. Bupenda Meitei contends that the aforesaid scenario was avoidable and the loss/damage could have been minimized or alleviated if there was prior intimation. Learned counsel also submits that there are differing statements regarding the quantum of rainfall qua official statements.

[5] Issue notice to respondent Nos. 1, 3,4 & 5.

[6] Ms. Thanyonmi Keishing, learned counsel accepts notice for respondent Nos. 1, 3 & 4 and Mr. Lenin Hijam, learned Advocate General(AG) appears on her behalf. Mr. Themchuiyo Kashung, learned counsel representing Mr. S. Vijayanand Sharma, learned counsel accepts notice for respondent No.5.

[7] Learned AG, Mr. Lenin Hijam submits that the allegation qua officials is not correct but in any event without taking an adversarial position considering that this is a human problem a Committee headed by Chief Secretary, Manipur along with a member from R5 shall be constituted, the Committee would go into to the matter and submit a report.

[8] In the light of what has unfurled thus far, with the consent of