The Centre on Monday decided to defer the house-listing phase of the Census 2027 in Manipur amid strong opposition from civil society groups in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley. These groups have been demanding that the government undertake a National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in the state before proceeding with the Census.
Court Involvement
The decision came hours after the Manipur High Court recorded an undertaking from the Centre that the house-listing operations, scheduled to begin on September 1, would be postponed. The state government also informed the court that it would keep its notification on the Census in abeyance.
““The decision has been taken in view of demands from Meitei and Naga groups in the state and also the tenuous security situation in Manipur,” said a senior government official.
The High Court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Kangleipak Students’ Association and the International Peace and Social Advancement, along with a connected writ petition. The court ordered that the house-listing operation remain in abeyance until the next hearing on October 12.
Government Meeting
The Centre’s decision followed a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday to review the situation in Manipur. According to a statement issued by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s office, the meeting was attended by state Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the Chief Minister, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and other senior officials.
The meeting discussed the demand from sections of the population in Manipur that the Census exercise be deferred until the implementation of the NRC. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah for accepting the demand.
