Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 07:
The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Govt of Manipur, and political organisations concerned, concerning the impasse over the Census Report of India 2001 in respect of nine sub-divisions of Ukhrul, senapati and Chandel districts.
In its decree delivered on April 5 the apex court not only issued notice to the respondents but have also issued notice in the stay application, returnable in three weeks.
A bench, comprising of Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan and Justice RV Raveendran issued the notice to Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Government of Manipur and political parties.
The petitioner in the case H Benjamin Mate on behalf of different tribal organisations had approached the Supreme Court challenging a Gauhati High Court order that directed the Census Commissioner to re-count the heads of population in the nine sub-divisions.
The High Court had held that the present final Census Report (2001) for the said sub-divisions should not be the basis for re-adjustment of number of seats and delimitation of constituencies of Manipur State.
The petitioner in the Special Leave Petition aggrieved by the High Court orders had highlighted to the Supreme Court that in case the delimitation exercise is carried out based on the Census Report (2001) hill areas mainly inhabited by tribals would gain three more seats resulting into more representation in the State assembly and enhance prospect for better living conditions.
Former Attorney General of India, Soli J Sorabjee appeared on behalf of the petitioner which was filed through Sundeep Srivastava of New Delhi-based Legal Vistas Law Officers.
A Writ Petition (PIL) filed by political parties had challenged the census report 2001 and the delimitation carried out on the basis of the said census report.