Manipur High Court has suspended Census 2027 operations until April 2027 and directed the Centre to examine seven representations seeking an NRC update.
Imphal, Nov. 5: The High Court of Manipur has directed that Census 2027 operations in the state remain suspended until April 30, 2027, while ordering the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to examine seven representations seeking an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before proceeding with the population enumeration.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M. Sundar and Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma passed the common oral judgment on November 4 while disposing of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 14 of 2026, along with connected writ petitions and miscellaneous applications.
The court directed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to consider the seven representations submitted by different civil society organisations and individuals and dispose of them through a single, comprehensive speaking order by April 30, 2027.
The ruling follows months of legal proceedings over the proposed Census 2027 exercise in Manipur, with petitioners arguing that population enumeration should not proceed without addressing concerns relating to alleged illegal immigration, demographic changes, internal displacement and the demand for an NRC update based on the 1951 records.
Importantly, the High Court has not ordered the implementation of an NRC in Manipur. Instead, it has directed the competent central authority to examine the representations and take a reasoned decision in accordance with law.
Three weeks for additional representations
Under the directions contained in paragraph 11 of the judgment, the court has provided a three-week window for petitioners, writ petitioners and other individuals or civil society organisations to submit additional or supplementary representations to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
The deadline for submitting such representations has been fixed as November 25, 2026. Submissions made after that date will not fall within the scope of the court's directions.
The central authority has also been given the option of conducting public consultations to examine the concerns raised by the organisations and assess the prevailing situation in Manipur.
If the authority decides that public consultations are unnecessary, it must provide specific reasons for that decision in the final speaking order.
The entire process, including consideration of the representations and publication of the common speaking order, must be completed by April 30, 2027.
The court further directed that the speaking order be served on the counsels representing the petitioners within five working days of its issuance.
Following publication of the order, Census operations will remain suspended for another four weeks to allow any aggrieved party to approach the High Court.
Census notifications to remain in abeyance
The High Court directed that the relevant central and state notifications concerning Census 2027 continue to operate without modification or rollback, while the census and house-listing exercises remain on hold in Manipur.
The directions cover Central Gazette Notification S.O. 4917(E), dated September 5, 2026, and S.O. 5913(E), dated October 30, 2026, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, along with the Manipur government's notification dated March 22, 2026.
The court also clarified that the legal rights, arguments and contentions raised by all parties would remain open for consideration in subsequent proceedings, particularly if any party challenges the final administrative decision.
PIL filed by KSA and IPSA
The proceedings originated from PIL No. 14 of 2026, jointly filed by the Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), represented by its secretary Huirongbam Babulu Singh, and International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA), represented by its president Maibam Bisheshwor.
The matter was heard alongside Writ Petition (Civil) No. 623 of 2026, filed by Shanta Singh Nahakpam, a resident of Imphal.
The petitioners challenged central and state notifications relating to the proposed Census 2027 exercise, arguing that a regular population enumeration without first addressing the demand for an NRC update could create further complications in Manipur.
They cited the prolonged ethnic conflict that began on May 3, 2023, large-scale displacement, concerns over cross-border migration and disputes over population records as reasons for seeking a review of the proposed census process.
The respondents included the Union Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, the Directorate of Census Operations, Manipur, and the Government of Manipur.
Seven representations placed before the court
The seven representations considered in the proceedings were submitted by civil society organisations and individuals between August 2025 and July 2026.
IPSA submitted its representation on August 21, 2025, seeking postponement or special provisions for the census in view of the continuing conflict, displacement, buffer zones and restrictions affecting movement across parts of the state.
It argued that conventional enumeration methods could incorrectly record internally displaced persons (IDPs) at temporary relief camps rather than their places of usual residence. The organisation proposed a special enumeration approach to account for displacement.
The Joint Committee Opposing Delimitation Exercise in Manipur (JCODEM) submitted a representation on November 6, 2025, raising concerns over administrative boundaries and alleged expansion of villages. It sought verification of jurisdictional boundaries before the census.
Another representation, submitted by Shanta Singh Nahakpam on April 13, 2026, sought safeguards for census enumeration in conflict-affected areas, including specific displacement indicators and independent monitoring.
JCODEM submitted another representation on May 27, 2026, seeking implementation of a 2007 Gauhati High Court directive concerning population verification in nine hill sub-divisions across Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel districts.
Three additional memoranda were submitted by a coalition of 14 civil society organisations on July 6, 2026. These were addressed separately to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The memoranda sought an update of the 1951 NRC and proposed measures concerning identification of citizens, census publication and future delimitation exercises.
Demographic concerns and earlier Assembly resolutions
The representations also cited historical population figures and demographic growth patterns to support the demand for an NRC update.
According to figures referred to in the court proceedings, Manipur's population increased from 284,465 in 1901 to 2,855,794 in 2011.
The petitioners also highlighted unusually high decadal population growth figures recorded in certain hill sub-divisions during the 1991–2001 census period. These included Mao-Maram (143 per cent), Paomata (123 per cent), Purul (169 per cent), Saitu Gamphazol (54 per cent), Chakpikarong (118 per cent), Moreh (69 per cent) and Machi (58 per cent).
These figures were cited by the petitioners as grounds for further demographic verification and should not be treated as judicial findings of illegal immigration.
The memorandum submissions also referred to two resolutions of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. On August 5, 2022, the Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution No. 129 seeking the establishment of a State Population Commission and implementation of an NRC.
The Assembly reaffirmed its position through Resolution No. 5 on March 1, 2024.
Communications from the Manipur Home Department to the Union Home Secretary, dated January 16, 2023, and June 12, 2024, were also cited in connection with concerns over illegal immigration, porous international borders and the Free Movement Regime.
