Tribal groups welcome Manipur HC order on recommendation for including Meiteis in ST list

A bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu had on Wednesday observed that the judgment was passed in a "misconception of law"

The Manipur High Court’s decision to delete the contentious paragraph from the March 27, 2023 order that directed the state government to send a recommendation on Scheduled Tribe Status for the Meitei community, has been welcomed by the Kuki community in the state.

Reacting to the development, ZO United Chairman Albert Renthlei said, “Scrapping of the 17 (A) has come with the direction of the Supreme Court’s decision also. So it is very much welcoming because over the involvement of the court, the procedure is different where the court has no role in this. So their involvement has caused a lot of apprehensions amongst us. This scrapping is definitely positive for us in my opinion.”

H Mangchinkhup, Convenor of Zomi Council Steering Committee said, “The right decision has been taken. In this regard it would have been more great if the whole petition was quashed because the decision is to be taken by the central government having a set of Constitutional norms to decide who is qualified to be Scheduled Tribe or who is not.”

Pautinthang Lupheng, spokesperson of the Kuki Inpi Manipur said, “The deletion of the contentious paragraph after the Manipur HC’s order that recommended the inclusion of the Meiteis in the ST list becomes a cause for celebration of the tribal living everywhere. We can only say that we respect the judgement. Other than appreciating the judgement of the High Court we do not have much comments to make.”

ITLF leader Ginza Vualzong said, “The Manipur High Court made a decision to delete the Para 17 of the request for the Meitei ST demand, so it is a good move for us, for the tribals in Manipur. The fact tha Manipur HC deleted the request is the right move from the government part.”

A bench of Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu had on Wednesday observed that the judgment was passed in a “misconception of law” as the “petitioners failed to assist the court properly at the time of hearing of the said writ petition due to his misconception of fact and law”.

Watch also: Kuki community welcomes HC decision on recommendation to govt for ST status to Meiteis

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