SCHEDULED TRIBE STATUS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS: A STUDY OF THE MEITEI DEMAND IN MANIPUR

The demand for donning Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by Meitei community snowballed into constitutional and socio-political crisis in the state after an order of 2023 passed by Manipur High Court to the then Manipur Government to take necessary steps so that they can be included in ST list which led to ethnic riot and bloody tensions across the state. This academic paper explores the constitutional provisions that govern the identification of directly recognized Scheduled Tribes based on Article 342 of the Constitution of India and some judicial limitation over reviewing administrative orders on tribe constitution. The paper included history of Meitei people, ST legal provisions and pro-cons for the demand. It comprises of a spectrum ranging from reservation to tribal self-governance, land rights and ethnic identity, federalism and constitutional morality. So the paper finally demonstrates through a doctrinal and analytic route that there is not crossing or bullying on ingenious or left any behalf, maintain bilateral symmetry without much likely bias within space as well need to be protection of basic dignity without specific reference in social justice rights of identified vulnerable communities, & conditions just within frame that favour peaceful cohabitation freedom from hostility calls for conflict free harmony living based democracy as recognised decision making process envisages justice can take place if they live & lead life ends dignified humane which fared disharmoniously.