Aizawl: The former Mizo chiefs have warmly welcomed the Lal Thanhawla Cabinet’s recent decision to give them compensation, which they have been fighting for in the high court for 17 years.
“The Mizo chiefs are extremely pleased by the Mizoram cabinet’s decision to give us compensation for their lands, which the Assam government had confiscated by its self-imposed authority, against the Constitution of India,” Mizo Chiefs’ Council said in a statement on Monday.
The Cabinet, chaired by chief minister Lal Thanhawla, on August 17, decided to send its recommendations on this matter to the Centre for final approval and payment of compensation.
Mizo sovereign chiefs who had ruled the then ‘Lushai country’, as called by the invading British troops, continued to hold their chieftainship during the British rule, but the government under independent India abolished the chieftainship and replaced it with democratically elected village councils.
The former chiefs and their descendants were rendered landless and without subjects and the government refused to pay compensation while in neighbouring states, the chiefs were allowed to continue or dethroned by payment of compensation. (UNI)
