Manipur HC Alters Order on Meitei Community ST Status

Asif Iqbal | February 22, 2024 | 10:03 PM IST | Courts & Law, Manipur | Follow on Google News

Manipur HC Alters Order on Meitei Community ST Status…..image/representative

Manipur HC Alters Order on Meitei Community ST Status

The Manipur High Court, in a recent development, modified a crucial portion of its March 27, 2023 order, which had directed the state government to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. This order has been identified as a key factor in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and tribal Kuki communities, resulting in significant casualties and displacements.

Review Petition Leads to Alterations

Acting on a review petition filed by six members of the Meitei Tribe Union (MTU), who had previously sought the inclusion of their community in the ST list, a single-judge bench led by Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu issued a new order on Wednesday. This order involved the removal of specific sections from the March 2023 directive.

Deletion of Controversial Paragraph

The contentious paragraph in last year’s verdict, emphasizing the expedited consideration of Meitei community inclusion, was deemed for deletion. The court stated that the paragraph instructing the state government to consider the case within four weeks was no longer applicable.

Supreme Court’s Intervention and Constitutional Concerns

The original order, challenged in the Supreme Court by Dinganglung Gangmei, the chairman of the Hill Area Committee of the Manipur Assembly, faced criticism. The Supreme Court bench, led by CJI DY Chandrachud, found the high court’s order factually incorrect and contrary to constitutional principles regarding the classification of communities in the SC/ST list.

Manipur High Court Acknowledges Constitutional Inconsistency

In its recent order, the Manipur High Court recognized the need to review Para 17 (iii) of the March 27 order, as it was deemed inconsistent with the observations made by the Constitution Benches of the Supreme Court. Consequently, the court ordered the deletion of Para No 17 (iii) from the judgment and order dated March 27, 2023.

This decision raises questions about the ongoing demand for ST status by the Meitei community, with some asserting that it is driven by motives to acquire tribal lands. The debate surrounding the historical claims and implications of this demand continues, impacting the larger socio-political landscape in Manipur.

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Asif Iqbal

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