Manipur Census 2027 faces further delay as HC seeks review of displacement concerns

New Delhi: The census exercise in Manipur will not move forward for several more months, with the Manipur high court directing the Centre to first address concerns raised by organizations and individuals in the state. The population count will remain suspended until April 30, 2027, while the authorities examine the objections.

The court has given the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India until that date to respond to seven representations. A division bench of justices M Sundar and A Guneshwar Sharma said the authorities must issue a reasoned decision after considering the submissions, Bar and Bench reported.

The dispute centres on whether a reliable population count is possible when thousands of people continue to live away from their homes because of ethnic violence. The petitioners have argued that displacement could create gaps in population records and make it difficult to account for affected families.

The case was brought by the Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), the International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) and Manipur-based civil society activist Shanta Singh Nahakpam. They also raised questions about how internally displaced people would be identified during the exercise.

Their objections included references to resolutions passed by the Manipur legislative assembly in August 2022 and March 2024. Both resolutions called for the introduction and implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Centre’s earlier decision to defer Census

The Centre had informed the high court on August 31 that house-listing operations for Census 2027 would be deferred in Manipur. The state government had also assured the court that it would not begin the exercise on September 1, as originally scheduled.

The registrar general and Census commissioner subsequently issued notifications on September 5 and October 30. The latest court order ensures that the postponement will continue while the objections are formally examined.

The authorities have also been given the option of holding public consultations. If they decide against such consultations, they must explain their reasons.

Further representations can be submitted until November 25. Once a decision is issued, it must be sent to the petitioners’ lawyers within five working days and published on the official websites of the state government and census commissioner.

The court has also provided a four-week window after the decision during which the census will remain suspended. Those unhappy with the outcome can return to the high court to challenge the authorities’ decision.