The Manipur High Court has formally ordered a suspension of the census exercise within the state until April 30, 2027. This judicial directive comes in response to multiple petitions filed by various civil society organisations representing both Kuki and Meitei groups.
In its order, the court underscored significant challenges arising from widespread demographic changes, mass displacement of residents, misplaced administrative records, and ongoing disruptions stemming from prolonged regional conflict.
Legal arguments and petitions highlighted severe concerns regarding potentially inaccurate population figures, the presence of unauthorized settlements, and heavily restricted civilian movement across established security zones. Consequently, stakeholders have called for comprehensive recounting procedures and proper administrative delimitation to take place before any official census data is gathered.