Manipur, 22-02-2024 : The Manipur High Court’s recent decision to rescind a pivotal order, which advocated for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, has stirred significant legal and socio-political ramifications in the region. The directive, issued on March 27, 2023, sparked a wave of ethnic unrest resulting in tragic fatalities exceeding 200. However, during a review petition hearing on Wednesday, a single judge bench, presided over by Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu, revoked the contentious paragraph from last year’s verdict, citing conflicts with the constitutional stance upheld by the Supreme Court’s constitution bench.
The paragraph in question, which instructed the state to expedite the consideration of Meitei community inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list, was deemed unfit for retention. Justice Gaiphulshillu’s ruling emphasized the imperative of aligning with the prescribed procedure outlined by the Government of India for amendments to the Scheduled Tribe list. The court underscored the need for adherence to constitutional principles, as elucidated by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ report and echoed in the Supreme Court’s constitutional interpretation.
In its detailed 19-page verdict, the high court underscored the legislative boundaries limiting judicial intervention regarding Scheduled Tribe classifications, as delineated by a landmark constitution bench ruling in November 2000. The apex court had articulated that judicial authorities should refrain from overstepping their jurisdiction in determining such categorizations.
The repercussions of the March 27 order reverberated through the legal corridors, prompting a series of petitions challenging the high court directive, which ultimately found their way to the Supreme Court. The apex court, on May 17 of the same year, denounced the high court’s directive as “obnoxious” and deliberated on the possibility of staying the order due to perceived inaccuracies. However, refraining from addressing the core legal intricacies, the Supreme Court deferred to the larger division bench of the Manipur High Court where the challenges were pending.
Amidst the legal discourse, the Supreme Court extended an invitation to tribal participation, particularly from Kukis, in the ongoing legal proceedings related to intra-court appeals. This inclusive approach underscores the complexities of the demographic landscape, particularly the delicate balance between the Meitei majority and tribal communities, including Nagas and Kukis, which collectively shape Manipur’s socio-political fabric.
#ManipurHighCourt #MeiteiTribe #ScheduledTribes #EthnicUnrest #LegalReview #ConstitutionalDynamics #SupremeCourt #JudicialInterpretation #SocioPoliticalIssues #DemographicComplexity