Manipur Violence: BJP MLA moves SC against Manipur HC order on ST status for Meitei Community

Digital Desk: The Supreme Court has received a plea from a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA challenging the Manipur High Court's decision to grant the Meitei community's tribe status as a Scheduled Tribe.

Dinganglung Gangmei, the chairman of the Manipur Legislative Assembly's Hill Areas Committee, claimed in a petition that the Meitei group is not a tribe and has never been recognised as one. The petition further claimed that the State alone, not the High Court, has jurisdiction over the decision mandating the state government to recommend a tribe for the Scheduled Tribes List.

On March 27, the High Court ordered the State to consider the Meitei community for the Scheduled Tribes list. According to the appeal brought against the High Court order, it should be overturned because it is utterly unlawful. A stay of the High Court's order was also requested in the appeal.

A "Tribal Solidarity March" organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the Churachandpur district's Torbung area to oppose the non-tribal Meiteis, who predominate in the Imphal Valley, calling for Scheduled Tribe (SC) classification, descended into violence on May 3. When violence between tribal members and non-tribal members was reported in the Torbung area, thousands of protesters flocked to the streets to express their outrage, a senior police officer claimed.

The violence-torn Churachandpur region has received a glimmer of optimism because of the efforts of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles columns. In order to save residents from all communities, stop the violence, and bring about a return to normalcy in the area, the joint forces have been working nonstop for the past 96 hours. A serious act of violence has not yet been reported thanks to their tireless efforts. A flag march by the Security Forces will take place right after the curfew in Churachandpur is loosened from 7 to 10 am on Sunday.