Imphal: The Manipur High Court has kept Census 2027 in Manipur on hold until April 30, 2027, citing concerns over displaced residents, population records and the ongoing situation in the state.
The court has directed the Central government to examine seven representations and issue a detailed decision before proceeding with the census exercise.
The decision aims to ensure that population records are properly examined and internally displaced people are not overlooked during the census.
High Court Keeps Manipur Census 2027 Suspended
On November 4, 2026, a Division Bench of the Manipur High Court, comprising Chief Justice M Sundar and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma, passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) and a connected writ petition.
Read also: Kharungpat Bird Sanctuary in Manipur: Key Details, Area, Benefits, and Conservation Impact Explained
The court directed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to examine seven representations related to the proposed census exercise.
The authorities must consider these representations and issue a common, reasoned order by April 30, 2027.
The court also directed that the existing notifications keeping the census exercise on hold must continue without any changes until that date.
Why Has The Manipur Census 2027 Been Put On Hold
The case mainly concerns the challenges of conducting an accurate population count in Manipur following ethnic violence and the displacement of residents.
Several people have been forced to leave their homes and live in different locations, including relief camps.
The petitioners raised concerns about how these internally displaced persons (IDPs) would be identified and counted during the census.
They also questioned whether population records would accurately represent the state’s actual demographic situation if these issues were not addressed first.
Who Filed The Petition Against The Manipur Census 2027 Exercise
The public interest litigation was filed by the Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) and the International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA)..A connected writ petition was also filed by Shanta Singh Nahakpam.
The petitioners requested the court to postpone the census exercise until their concerns were properly examined.
They also referred to resolutions passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 5, 2022, and March 1, 2024, seeking the introduction and implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.
Centre And State Had Already Deferred Census Operations
The postponement process began before the November 4 judgment. On August 31, 2026, the Central government informed the High Court that it had decided to defer the house-listing operations of Census 2027 in Manipur.
The state government also gave an undertaking that it would not begin the exercise scheduled for September 1, 2026.
Later, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner issued notifications dated September 5 and October 30, 2026, concerning the postponement.
The High Court took note of these developments and directed that the census exercise should remain suspended until the concerns raised in the representations are considered.
Public And Organisations Can Submit More Representations
The Manipur High Court has also allowed individuals and organisations to submit additional representations. The deadline for submitting these representations is November 25, 2026.
This will allow more affected people and organisations to present their concerns before the authorities make a final decision.
The court has also permitted the authorities to conduct public consultations while examining the representations.
If the authorities decide not to hold public consultations, they must explain the reasons for that decision in their final order.
Census To Remain On Hold For Four More Weeks After Decision
The High Court has provided additional time for affected parties to challenge the authorities’ decision.
It directed that the census exercise must remain suspended for four weeks even after the representations are decided.
This period will allow petitioners or other affected parties to approach the High Court if they disagree with the final decision.
The court also directed that the final order must be communicated to the petitioners’ lawyers within five working days of its issuance.
The decision must also be uploaded to the official websites of the Manipur government and the Census Commissioner.
Read also: Supreme Court Permits Manipur to Appoint DGP from Outside State Cadre
FAQs
The Manipur High Court has ordered the census exercise to remain on hold until April 30, 2027, while the authorities examine the representations.
The Manipur High Court suspended Census 2027 in the state because of concerns about displaced residents, population records and the accuracy of the population count following ethnic violence.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India have been directed to examine seven representations and issue a common, reasoned decision by April 30, 2027.
