In a significant development, the Manipur High Court has permitted tribal organizations in the state to appeal against the contentious March 27 order that directed the state government to recommend Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community. This decision, handed down by a division bench comprising Justice Ahanthem Bimol and Justice Guneshwar Sharma, comes in response to the main concerns raised by the applicants regarding potential prejudice if they are not given the opportunity to express their views or objections in matters related to granting ST status to the Meitei community.
The controversial order, issued by a single judge bench following a petition filed by members of the Meitei Tribes Union, requested the state government to consider their inclusion in the ST list. This directive by then acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan had triggered widespread objections from Kuki Zo organizations. Subsequently, a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSUM) on May 3 escalated into violence in Torbung, Churachandpur district, marking the beginning of ethnic tensions that have, to date, claimed at least 180 lives.
The court stated, “Taking into consideration the nature of arguments advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the parties, which need to be examined and decided on the basis of the materials available in the connected writ appeal and writ petition, and taking into consideration the grievances raised by the applicants, we are inclined to grant the leave sought by the applicants in the present application.”
Advocate Collin Gonsalves, representing the tribal organizations, expressed concerns during his arguments, stating that “if the Meitei community is wrongly granted ST status, this will adversely affect the existing tribal STs in terms of employment and education, where reservations for STs exist. The Meitei community, being politically, economically, and educationally advanced, could dominate the majority of ST reserved seats.”
Senior advocate M Hemchandra, appearing for the respondents, pointed out that “in spite of having records of Meitei community as Meitei tribes,” they “had been left out at the time of preparation of the ST list under the Constitution of India.” He further emphasized that “Meitei tribes have approached authorities for the last several years but have failed to initiate the process for inclusion into the ST lists.”
Although the March 27 order has been considered a catalyst for ethnic tensions in the state, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has consistently linked the violence to the state government’s campaign against drugs and poppy cultivation in the hills. He also attributed it to the unrest caused by illegal immigrants from Myanmar. In a related context, on August 9, Union Home Minister Amit Shah noted in Parliament that political instability in neighboring Myanmar had compelled many Kukis to seek refuge in Manipur for safety.
This court ruling paves the way for a more comprehensive examination of the ST status matter, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the Meitei community and the tribal organizations involved.
In a significant development, the Manipur High Court has permitted tribal organizations in the state to appeal against the contentious March 27 order that directed the state government to recommend Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community. This decision, handed down by a division bench comprising Justice Ahanthem Bimol and Justice Guneshwar Sharma, comes in response to the main concerns raised by the applicants regarding potential prejudice if they are not given the opportunity to express their views or objections in matters related to granting ST status to the Meitei community.
The controversial order, issued by a single judge bench following a petition filed by members of the Meitei Tribes Union, requested the state government to consider their inclusion in the ST list. This directive by then acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan had triggered widespread objections from Kuki Zo organizations. Subsequently, a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSUM) on May 3 escalated into violence in Torbung, Churachandpur district, marking the beginning of ethnic tensions that have, to date, claimed at least 180 lives.
The court stated, “Taking into consideration the nature of arguments advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the parties, which need to be examined and decided on the basis of the materials available in the connected writ appeal and writ petition, and taking into consideration the grievances raised by the applicants, we are inclined to grant the leave sought by the applicants in the present application.”
Advocate Collin Gonsalves, representing the tribal organizations, expressed concerns during his arguments, stating that “if the Meitei community is wrongly granted ST status, this will adversely affect the existing tribal STs in terms of employment and education, where reservations for STs exist. The Meitei community, being politically, economically, and educationally advanced, could dominate the majority of ST reserved seats.”
Senior advocate M Hemchandra, appearing for the respondents, pointed out that “in spite of having records of Meitei community as Meitei tribes,” they “had been left out at the time of preparation of the ST list under the Constitution of India.” He further emphasized that “Meitei tribes have approached authorities for the last several years but have failed to initiate the process for inclusion into the ST lists.”
Although the March 27 order has been considered a catalyst for ethnic tensions in the state, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has consistently linked the violence to the state government’s campaign against drugs and poppy cultivation in the hills. He also attributed it to the unrest caused by illegal immigrants from Myanmar. In a related context, on August 9, Union Home Minister Amit Shah noted in Parliament that political instability in neighboring Myanmar had compelled many Kukis to seek refuge in Manipur for safety.
This court ruling paves the way for a more comprehensive examination of the ST status matter, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the Meitei community and the tribal organizations involved.
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