Supreme CourtImage source: PTI
The Supreme Court held hearings on the delimitation case of four states in the northeastern part of the country. During this period, the central government made its position clear in court. The central government’s Abu Sayyaf said the situation in Manipur was unfavorable but consultations with other states were ongoing. In this regard, the complainant’s lawyer said that as far as Assam is concerned, the boundaries were delimited last year but there are still three states left. Whether the Election Commission can proceed without instructions is a question.
The petitioner’s counsel said that demarcation action cannot be taken unless ordered by the President. In response, the Abu Sayyaf Group stated that the situation in the northeastern states is very sensitive and we do not want to cause trouble to anyone. For Arunachal Pradesh, we also received comments from locals who did not want the boundary to be demarcated.
Hearing postponed to third week of January
Thereafter, on the request of ASG, the Supreme Court postponed the hearing of the petition to the third week of January. In fact, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking delimitation of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The petitioners said delimitation should be done in these states.
The petition stated that the non-delimitation of these four states violated the fundamental rights under Article 14 of the Constitution. The petition stated that there is no law and order problem in these four states. Elections have also been held peacefully here for the past two decades. Other states in India have also adopted the delimitation process but these four states have been deprived, which is not right.
Violence not stopping in Manipur
Although Manipur was relatively peaceful when the delimitation petition was filed in the Supreme Court, the state has been rocked by a spate of violent incidents in recent months. Even now, there is tension in several districts, including the capital Imphal.
The Electoral Commission itself asked for the lines to be drawn
The petition also demands that all available demarcation measures be exhausted. The petition stated that separate delimitation commissions should not be set up in these states for delimitation. The delimitation of these states should be done by the Election Commission itself.
