Manipur Census to remain on hold until April 2027, says High Court

The High Court of Manipur has said that the Census in the State will remain suspended until at least April 30, 2027, while the Centre considers requests from campaign groups and residents to delay or change the dates for the exercise.

A Bench of Chief Justice M. Sundar and Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma said postponement notices already issued by the Centre and the State government must remain in force until the date specified and cannot be withdrawn or altered.

The court’s November 4 order disposed of two petitions, one filed by Imphal resident Shanta Singh Nahakpam and the other by the Kangleipak Students’ Association and the International Peace and Social Advancement. They had challenged the plan to begin house-listing, the first stage of the 2027 Census, in the State from September 1.

The petitioners argued that conditions in Manipur, where thousands of people have been displaced by the ethnic violence that began in May 2023, were not right for an accurate headcount. They also expressed fears that Census figures could affect the redrawing of Assembly constituency boundaries.

The court noted that some groups wanted the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be updated before the Census operation is undertaken and the 2001 Census figures in certain hill areas to be recounted.

The court asked the Registrar General of India and the Census Commissioner to consider the demands raised in existing petitions on their “own merits” and issue a detailed, reasoned decision. It said the petitioners and anyone else could send additional petitions by November 25.

The court said the authorities concerned may hold public consultations after the decisions by April 30, 2027. “If it (public consultation) is considered not necessary, the reasons shall be set out in the common speaking order,” it said.

The court further said the Census would remain on hold for four weeks after the decision was issued, allowing anyone dissatisfied with it to approach the court again.

On August 31, the Centre told the court that it would postpone house-listing in Manipur, and the State government agreed to put its schedule on hold.

The Centre issued a notification on September 5, deferring the exercise in the State. Another notification, issued on October 30, said the population enumeration would be held from late January to the end of February 2027, with midnight of March 1, 2027, as the reference date.

The October 30 notification also said Manipur had been excluded from the nationwide headcount “till further declaration”.

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