Manipur High Court puts Census process on hold amid NRC, illegal migration concerns

The Manipur High Court on August 31 directed that the Census process in the state remain deferred until further orders, a day before it was scheduled to begin on September 1.

The order came amid protests and growing demands from civil society groups to postpone the Census until the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is updated and alleged illegal immigrants are identified.

A special bench comprising Chief Justice M Sundar and Justice A Guneswar Sharma heard a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) and a separate writ petition filed by Shanta Nahakpam.

According to Nahakpam, convenor of a group of 14 civil society organisations, the petitions seek directions for updating the NRC using 1951 as the base year and for addressing concerns over alleged illegal migration before the Census is carried out.

During Monday’s special hearing, lawyers representing the Centre and the Manipur government informed the court that the Census exercise would remain deferred, Nahakpam said.

The petitions also raise concerns over alleged illegal migration from neighbouring Myanmar and its possible impact on the state’s indigenous population.

Nahakpam said civil society groups had been campaigning for the past four to five months for the Census to be postponed until alleged illegal immigrants are identified and deported. He said conducting delimitation while such concerns remain unresolved would not ensure justice for Manipur’s indigenous communities.

He added that the groups decided to seek legal intervention after concluding that agitation alone would not resolve the issue.

The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for October 12, 2026.