Manipur violence: Court revokes order recommending inclusion of Meitei community in ST list

The High Court in the northeastern Indian state of Manipurordered the deletion of a paragraph from a March 2023 order that urged the state to consider including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The court observed that the paragraph was in conflict with the Supreme Court's constitutional bench stance.

The single-judge bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu was hearing a review petition filed against para 17 (iii) of the decision dated March 27, 2023.

Last year's directive was believed to be one of the reasons that led to ethnic unrest in the state, and conflict between the non-tribal Meitei community and the tribal Kuki-Zo community. The violent clashes in the state claimed over 200 lives and injured 1,500 people. As per reports, over 70,000 people from both communities were displaced.

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the order was rescinded by the justice during the hearing on Wednesday (Feb 21). The order of Wednesday said, "....the direction given at Para No. 17 (iii) needs to be deleted and is ordered accordingly for deletion of the Para No. 17 (iii) of the judgment and order dated 27.03.2023 passed in W.P.(C) No. 229 of 2023."

The controversial paragraph from last year's verdict instructed the state to expedite consideration of Meitei community inclusion, which was deemed for deletion.

Justice Gaiphulshillu's order said: "The Meetei (Meitei) of Manipur has lost the identity of the tribe while merging with the Union of India on September 21, 1949, and earlier Manipur was a simple classless tribal society."

"However, at the time of merging, 29 communities of Manipur have been included in the Scheduled Tribe list of Indian Union and thereafter, as per the order of May 26, 2003, of the Gauhati High Court's Imphal bench, Chongthu, Khoibu, and Mate have been included in the list of Scheduled Tribes. Accordingly, now there are 34 numbers of tribal communities of Manipur included in the list of Scheduled Tribes of the Indian Constitution, but the Meetei (Meitei) tribe was left out," it added.

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Manipur violence

Last year in May, violent clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts aimed at protesting the Meitei community's demand for ST status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals - Nagas and Kukis - constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

(With inputs from agencies)