Manipur: HAC urges Centre and state to appeal against HC’s ruling to include Meiteis in ST list

Reported by Kaybie Chongloi

Days after the Manipur High Court directed the State Government to submit recommendations for the inclusion of the community in the ST list of the Constitution of India, the Hills Area Committee(HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, has resolved to urge the State Government as well as the Center to appeal against the Manipur High Court Order, taking into account the ‘sentiments, interest and rights’ of the Scheduled Tribes (ST) of Manipur.

The resolution was unanimously adopted during a HAC meeting held last evening.

HAC in a statement stated that the Committee is aggrieved by the order of the High Court asking the State government to include the Meitei community in the ST list of India despite strong opposition from the STs of the state.

The HAC further stated that the Committee, which is a constitutional body of the hill areas of the state was neither made a party to the case nor consulted and HAC has never given any recommendation or consent.

The Meitei community people are already protected under the constitution and categorised as General, OBC and Scheduled Caste, added the HAC.

Meanwhile, The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) is likely to convene a meeting today in connection with the High Court order.

It is to be noted that issuing the order on April 19, asking State Government to submit recommendations for the inclusion of the community in the ST list the High Court has directed the state Government to consider the case preferably within a period of four weeks from the day.

Meanwhile, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) welcomed the High Court’s order and expressed optimism that the state government will act appropriately and endorse the community’s inclusion on the ST list.

Also Read: Manipur HC directs state Govt to submit recommendations for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in ST list of India

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