ST Status To Meitei Community: Manipur High Court Allows Tribal Bodies To File Appeal Against Order

The Manipur High Court has allowed tribal bodies in the state to file an appeal against the March 27 contentious order that directed the state government to recommend Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry.

Manipur High Court Allows Appeal Against ST Status Order For Meitei Community

In the March 27 order, the then acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan had ordered, “The first respondent (state government) shall consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei Community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period four weeks…”

The March 27 order led to widespread objections from Kuki Zo bodies which was followed by a rally, organised by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, during which violence broke out at Torbung in Churachandpur district and became the trigger for the ethnic clashes which has so far claimed at least 180 lives.