Addition of Meiteis in ST list; UNC condemns High Court order

Imphal: The United Naga Council (UNC) has strongly condemned the Manipur High Court recent verdict on the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list by the Meitei community in the state.
On March 27, the Manipur High Court directed the state government to recommend the central government to include the Meitei/Meeitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list and consider the case within four weeks. The UNC has strongly criticized the decision saying that the inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the ST list is unreasonable, as the purpose of the list is to provide protective discrimination to groups who need it, and it Community does not meet criteria.
The UNC has argued that the Meitei/Meetei community of Manipur is a developed community in India and their language, Manipuri (Meiteilon), is listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Moreover, this community is already protected under the Constitution of India and is classified as (i) General, (ii) Other Backward Classes (OBC), and (iii) Scheduled Caste (SC).
“Hence, the UNC strongly condemns the recent order of the Manipur High Court on March 27, which directed the Manipur government to enumerate the STs, despite strong opposition from the Scheduled Tribes. /recommendation for inclusion of the Meitei community in the state,” he added.
It may be noted that several valley-based civil society organizations in the state, such as the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) and the World Meitei Council, have been strongly demanding the inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST list. However, tribal organizations including UNC and All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) have strongly objected to this demand.