<p>The Manipur High Court on Monday (Aug 31) directed that the Census exercise in the state be kept in abeyance until further orders, a day before the house-listing operation was scheduled to begin on September 1, following sustained protests from civil society groups demanding the process be linked to an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC).</p><p>The court’s special bench, comprising Chief Justice M Sundar and Justice A Guneswar Sharma, stated: “In the light of stated positions of respondents (Central and State Governments) the house listing operation of Census of India, 2027 scheduled to commence tomorrow (Sept 1) shall be kept in abeyance by State Government until next listing, which will be on October 12.”</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-meets-russia-president-putin-for-bilateral-talks-says-every-day-of-war-sets-humanity-back-1788184510346">PM Modi meets Russia President Putin for bilateral talks, says 'every day of war sets humanity back'</a></p><h2>The petitions</h2><p>The bench heard a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) and a separate writ petition filed by Shanta Nahakpam, convenor of a coalition of 14 civil society organisations. According to Nahakpam, the petitions sought directions for updating the NRC using 1951 as the base year, and for addressing concerns over alleged illegal migration before the Census proceeds.</p><p>During Monday’s hearing, lawyers representing the Centre and the Manipur government informed the court that the Census exercise would remain deferred, Nahakpam said.</p><h2>Migration concerns cited</h2><p>The petitions raise concerns over alleged illegal migration from neighbouring Myanmar and its potential impact on the state’s indigenous population. Nahakpam said civil society groups had been campaigning for four to five months for the Census to be postponed until alleged illegal immigrants are identified and deported, adding that conducting delimitation while these concerns remain unresolved “would not ensure justice for Manipur’s indigenous communities.”</p><p>He said the groups turned to legal intervention after concluding that agitation alone would not resolve the issue.</p><h2>CSOs push for tripartite talks</h2><p>Separately, a delegation of Manipur civil society organisations had urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to convene tripartite talks involving the Union government, the state government, and representatives of different communities before the Census proceeds, arguing that citizenship-related concerns must be resolved first for the exercise to gain acceptance across the state.</p><h2>What’s next</h2><p>The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for October 12, 2026, the same date set for the next house-listing operation, according to the court’s order.</p><p>The development comes amid heightened sensitivities in Manipur around demography, citizenship and delimitation, following prolonged ethnic tensions in the state since 2023.</p>

The Manipur High Court deferred the Census house-listing operation until October 12, responding to petitions demanding that illegal immigrants be identified and an updated NRC be implemented before proceeding.

The Manipur High Court on Monday (Aug 31) directed that the Census exercise in the state be kept in abeyance until further orders, a day before the house-listing operation was scheduled to begin on September 1, following sustained protests from civil society groups demanding the process be linked to an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC). The court’s special bench, comprising Chief Justice M Sundar and Justice A Guneswar Sharma, stated: “In the light of stated positions of respondents (Central and State Governments) the house listing operation of Census of India, 2027 scheduled to commence tomorrow (Sept 1) shall be kept in abeyance by State Government until next listing, which will be on October 12.” Also read: PM Modi meets Russia President Putin for bilateral talks, says 'every day of war sets humanity back' The petitions The bench heard a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) and a separate writ petition filed by Shanta Nahakpam, convenor of a coalition of 14 civil society organisations. According to Nahakpam, the petitions sought directions for updating the NRC using 1951 as the base year, and for addressing concerns over alleged illegal migration before the Census proceeds. During Monday’s hearing, lawyers representing the Centre and the Manipur government informed the court that the Census exercise would remain deferred, Nahakpam said. Migration concerns cited The petitions raise concerns over alleged illegal migration from neighbouring Myanmar and its potential impact on the state’s indigenous population. Nahakpam said civil society groups had been campaigning for four to five months for the Census to be postponed until alleged illegal immigrants are identified and deported, adding that conducting delimitation while these concerns remain unresolved “would not ensure justice for Manipur’s indigenous communities.” He said the groups turned to legal intervention after concluding that agitation alone would not resolve the issue. CSOs push for tripartite talks Separately, a delegation of Manipur civil society organisations had urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to convene tripartite talks involving the Union government, the state government, and representatives of different communities before the Census proceeds, arguing that citizenship-related concerns must be resolved first for the exercise to gain acceptance across the state. What’s next The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for October 12, 2026, the same date set for the next house-listing operation, according to the court’s order. The development comes amid heightened sensitivities in Manipur around demography, citizenship and delimitation, following prolonged ethnic tensions in the state since 2023.

<p>The Manipur High Court deferred the Census house-listing operation until October 12, responding to petitions demanding that illegal immigrants be identified and an updated NRC be implemented before proceeding.</p>

Manipur census deferred till October 12 after high court order amidst NRC demands

The High Court in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur ordered 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.

Manipur High Court deletes direction of 2023 to consider inclusion of Meiteis in ST List

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

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Manipur census deferred till October 12 after high court order amidst NRC demands

Manipur High Court deletes direction of 2023 to consider inclusion of Meiteis in ST List

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