HC deletes part of order given on Meiteis' ST demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 21 2024: A single bench of the High Court of Manipur has given a fresh order to delete Para number 17 (iii) of the judgment passed by then Chief Justice of the same Court on March 27 last year which directed the State Government to send a report to the Centre for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list within four weeks.

The order for deletion of Para number 17(iii) was passed today by a single bench of High Court of Manipur Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu in connection with the review petition filed by representative of Meitei Tribes' Union against the State Government, Chief Secretary Government of Manipur, Secretary of Tribal Affairs and Hills Department and Secretary of Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

The review petition was filed under Chapter �X of the rules of the High Court of Manipur read with Article 215 of the Constitution of India, seeking review of the judgment.

The single bench of the High Court of Manipur heard the submission of the senior counsel of the petitioners and State and Central Government counsels during the hearing of the review petition.

It was submitted that the petitioners approached the High Court and submitted the writ petition as the process to send the recommendation and verify the veracity to enlist Meitei/Meetei in the ST list was pending before the State Government for 10 years without any explanation.

Saying that the Chairman of Hill Area Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Dinganglung Gangmei approached the Supreme Court and challenged the judgment of the High Court given on March 27 last, the counsel further submitted that Supreme Court also found that the direction made at Para No.17 (iii) of the judgment was against the judgment of the Constitution Bench of the apex Court.

The State and Central Government counsels, on the other hand, submitted that they are not going to file a counter affidavit and have nothing to say as they have not received any instructions from the authority concerned.

Accordingly, the Court directed deletion of Para no.17(iii) of the judgment passed by then Chief Justice on March 27 last and disposed of the review petition.

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