Manipur HC modifies order which led to massive strife: Courts cannot alter ST list
The Manipur High Court has omitted a section from its contentious ruling of March 27, 2023, which had instructed the state government to make a recommendation on granting scheduled tribe status to the Meitei community.
This ruling triggered widespread ethnic tensions in Manipur, particularly among the tribal Kuki community, which opposed the court’s directive.
A panel led by Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu acknowledged that the judgment was made under a “misinterpretation of the law” due to the “inadequate assistance provided by the petitioners during the hearing of the said writ petition, stemming from their misunderstanding of both facts and law”.
Justice Gaiphulshillu emphasised that the ruling contradicted the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of State of Maharashtra vs Milind & Ors, where the apex court ruled that courts lack the authority to modify, amend or alter the Scheduled Tribe list.
In October, the Manipur High Court permitted tribal organisations in the state to file an appeal against the March 27 ruling. Consequently, the All Manipur Tribal Union lodged an appeal.
On January 20, the court accepted a review petition seeking to amend its March 27 ruling and issued notices to both the Centre and the state government, soliciting their responses.
