The Delhi High Court today sought the stand of the Centre, Manipur government and the UPSC on a plea seeking setting up of additional examination centres for civil services and Indian Forest Service aspirants in the northeastern state.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora issued notice on the petition by Zomi Students Federation which sought directions to the authorities to make adequate arrangements for tribal candidates from Manipur in order to enable them to take the civil services and Indian Forest Service preliminary examination scheduled for May 26.
The bench also asked the Centre’s counsel to take instructions on the issue, saying it has to provide security in the current scenario. The petitioner urged for setting up examination centres in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi in the state, which is in the grip of a protracted ethnic violence, and reopening of the application window to enable the aspirants to opt for a centre of their choice.
Advocate appearing for the UPSC told the High Court that the commission has already written three letters to the Manipur chief secretary with respect to opening of examination centres in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Ukhrul but no response has been received yet.
He added that the commission has to work closely with the state government in order to make adequate arrangements for holding the examinations and so the state’s stand has been sought on the feasibility of the proposal.
The northeastern state of Manipur plunged into an ethnic violence in May 2023 over a Manipur High Court order directing the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
This aforesaid verdict led to rampant ethnic clashes. Over 160 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence first broke out in the state on May 3 when a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on May 19.