High Court Stays Census in Manipur Till April 30, 2027

According to reports by Aaj Tak and India Today, the High Court has issued a major order regarding the census process in violence-hit Manipur. The court has directed a stay on the census process in the state until April 30, 2027. This order has been issued taking cognizance of representations filed by various organizations.

These representations seriously raised the issue of changes in the state's demography due to the ongoing conflict and illegal migration in the state. Applicants and various organizations argued that due to violence, many houses have either been vacated or damaged. These people have strongly demanded a recount of the population, especially in the hill areas.

Their argument is that due to violence and roadblocks, the actual population of these areas cannot be correctly assessed. Apart from this, a demand has also been made by the applicants to carry out the delimitation process. According to reports, the applicants state that unauthorized villages are being settled in the hill areas following communal and ethnic violence.

These representations also mentioned the entry into the state of alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators who married local women. However, all these matters are allegations raised in the representations, not any findings of the court. These people also raised the demand that the National Register of Citizens, i.e., NRC, should be updated before starting any census process.

() The court has directed the Central Government as well as the Registrar General and Census Commissioner to consider these representations and pass orders by April 30. The state of Manipur has been continuously facing ethnic violence since 2023. Until the Centre and the ruling authorities decide on these representations, the census process will remain suspended.

According to Wikipedia background, Manipur is a northeastern state of India known for its rich culture, beautiful natural environment, and complex social equations among various ethnic communities. This state has also faced various internal conflicts and security challenges in the past, due to which the population and geographical conditions here have always been sensitive.