`The Supreme Court in the case observed wherein the Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee, HAC of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, Dinganglung Gangmei, has approached, challenging the Manipur High Court order with regards to the status of Scheduled Tribe status for the Meetei or the Meitei community as a tribe of Manipur.
The petitioner in the plea argued wherein directing the state government to recommend a tribe for the Scheduled Tribes List which falls solely within the jurisdiction of the State, and not the High Court.
The plea was moved by one Gangmei, a BJP MLA, argued before the court that this this impugned order has resulted in the unrest in Manipur that has been caused the death of 19 people.
The single judge bench of the Manipur High Court headed by acting Chief Justice M.V. Muralidaran through its impugned order directed the State for considering. Thus, the inclusion of Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list.
The petitioner in the plea argued that the High Court has made three errors while taking the decision-
1. First error is directing the State to make a recommendation to the Central Government which include the Meitei Community as a Scheduled Tribe in the Presidential
2. The second mistake being the conclusion that the issue of inclusion of the Meeteis or Meiteis was pending for nearly 10 years.
3. The third mistake being in concluding that the Meiteis are the tribes.
Further, the petitioner in the plea submitted that even if directions were to be given they could not have been given without notice to the HAC and hearing the HAC.
