A batch of pleas has been filed in the Supreme Court on the Manipur situation including one by a ruling BJP MLA challenging the High Court (HC) order on the issue of Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community and a PIL by a tribal outfit for a probe by an SIT into the violence that rocked the State last week.
The clashes started in Churachandpur district last Wednesday after tribals held a protest opposing reservation to the Meiteis following March 27 HC order asking State Government to send a recommendation to Centre within four weeks on the demand for ST status by Meitei community.
Appeals have been filed by Dinganglung Gangmei, BJP MLA and chairman of the Hills Area Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, challenging various orders passed by the Manipur HC on ST status to Meiteis, including the contempt notices on criticism of the HC order. Gangmei in his appeal said the HAC “was a necessary and proper party and the proceedings before the HC were vitiated on account of not making the HAC a party”.
He said, “Even if directions were to be given they could not have been given without notice to the HAC (Hills Area Committee) and hearing the HAC."He said that due to the impugned order, there was tension between both the communities and violent clashes have erupted across the State.
“As a result of it so far 19 tribal people have been killed, various places in the States are blocked, the internet is completely shut down and more people are at risk of losing their lives”, the appeal said.
The PIL filed by an NGO 'Manipur Tribal Forum', through advocate Satya Mitra, said it has moved the top court under Article 32 of the Constitution on account of the extreme situation arising out of the attacks on the tribal community in Manipur by a “dominant group”.
It alleged that "these attacks have the full support of the party in power ... Which supports the dominant group" and sought directions to the Centre and Manipur to evacuate Manipuri tribals who have fled their villages.