Manipur High Court puts Census 2027 on hold until April 30

The Manipur High Court has directed the Centre to examine concerns over conducting the Census 2027 exercise in the state amid ethnic violence and displacement, effectively putting the process on hold until April 30, 2027.

The court asked the Centre and the Registrar General and Census Commissioner to consider representations from petitioners and pass orders by the deadline.

The petitioners argued that damaged and abandoned homes, closed roads and displacement could affect the accuracy of the population count. They also raised concerns about demographic changes linked to the conflict and immigration.

They sought a fresh population count, particularly in the hill areas, a delimitation exercise and an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the census. Their representations also alleged that unauthorised villages had emerged after the violence and that "Bangladeshi immigrants" had entered the state and married local women.

The Centre had already deferred the house-listing phase of the census in Manipur through a September 5 notification, without specifying a new date. The phase involves recording houses and household details. The notification amended a January 7 order covering all states and Union territories, excluding Manipur "till further declaration".

Manipur has witnessed ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 3, 2023. The clashes began after a Tribal Solidarity March opposing the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Meiteis live mainly in the Imphal Valley, while Kuki-Zo communities largely inhabit the hill districts. At least 306 people have been killed, and 49 remain missing, according to figures shared in the state Assembly in September.

Government data released in April showed that more than 58,000 people had been displaced, nearly 7,900 houses destroyed, and over 2,600 partially damaged. Many families continue to live in relief camps.