Manipur High Court Modifies 2023 Order On Meiteis In ST List
In its order today, the High Court cited a previous order of a constitution bench of the Supreme Court that laid down the process for inclusion and exclusion of tribes in the Scheduled list.
IMPHAL- The Manipur high court on Wednesday deleted a portion of an earlier order passed by it in March last year directing the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the scheduled tribe (ST) list.
The detailed order that came today, deleted the direction to the state government to consider addition of the Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list ‘expeditiously, preferably within four weeks,” which had incensed the Kuki community.
In its order today, the High Court cited a previous order of a constitution bench of the Supreme Court that laid down the process for inclusion and exclusion of tribes in the Scheduled list. The responsibility belongs to the Central government and the courts have no role in it. The top court had also observed that courts cannot modify, amend or alter the ST list.
The order by Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu today said the direction was contrary to the Supreme Court’s decision in State of Maharashtra v. Milind & Ors, in which the top court had observed that courts cannot modify, amend or alter the ST list. “Accordingly, the direction given at Para No. 17(iii) needs to be deleted and is ordered accordingly for deletion,” the judgment read.
The direction of the former Acting Chief Justice MV Muralidaran, given on March 27, 2023, was questioned by the Supreme Court when the Kuki community had approached it.
In its earlier judgment, the High Court had said, “The first respondent (meaning the state) shall consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.”
Manipur: Two Killed, Dozen injured in Police firing in Churachandpur
Over 200 people had died in the state since May last year and the state is yet to come back to normal.
The tweaking of the court order, however, does not mean the end of the road for the Meiteis for inclusion in the Scheduled list.
The matter is now being discussed between the state and the Centre, which is expected to proceed independently.
On May 29 last year, the Centre had asked the state to send its recommendations and the points based on which the Centre will take a call on the issue. The state is yet to send this recommendation.
