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Manipur High Court: The Manipur High Court has overturned its 2023 order to include the Meitei community as a Scheduled Tribe (ST). The High Court said, 'This decision has increased sexual unrest in the state. More than 200 people have died so far in the communal violence that broke out in the state.
Opposition to High Court decision
On 27 March 2023, the Manipur High Court ordered the state government to consider granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community. After this decision of the court, gender violence broke out in the state. Following this a review petition was filed in the court by the Meitei community. The review petition filed in the High Court said, 'Paragraph 17(3) of the court order should be amended.' However, while hearing this review petition, the court amended its decision.
Sexual violence has been raging in Manipur for a long time
On May 3, 2023, Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) took out 'Tribal Unity March' in Torbang area of Churachandpur. This rally was organized to demand the granting of Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community. The Meitei community has been demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for a long time.
During this rally, violent clashes took place between tribals and non-tribals. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. By evening the situation worsened so much that army and paramilitary forces had to be deployed there.
Why is the Meitei community demanding tribal status?
The Meitei community constitutes more than 53 percent of the population in Manipur. These are non-tribal communities, mostly Hindus and Kukis and Nagas constitute about 40 percent of the population. Despite having such a large population in the state, the Meitei community could settle only in the valley. More than 90 percent of Manipur is mountainous. Only 10 percent of the area is valley. Naga and Kuki communities live in the hilly areas.
According to a law of Manipur, the Meitei community settled in the valley can neither settle in the hilly areas nor buy land. But Kuki and Naga tribal communities living in the hilly areas can also settle in the valley and buy land. The whole point is that more than 53 percent of the population may live in only 10 percent of the area, but 40 percent of the population dominates more than 90 percent of the area.