Taking things very lightly: Supreme Court pulls up Centre in plea on racial discrimination against North East Indians

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Central government for failing to convene meetings of a court-mandated monitoring committee every three months to address issues faced by people from North East India residing across the country. [Alana Golmei v. Union of India]

A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran noted that the Union had been “taking things very lightly” despite clear directions and the matter being kept pending.

"We are not going to close this. Despite us keeping this matter pending, you (Union) were taking things very lightly....There is no doubt about it. After 15 December, you didn't hold a meeting till we asked you to hold one. You (Union) were supposed to hold it every three months,” the Bench observed.

The Bench also flagged continuing discrimination faced by people from the region.

“A video is currently doing the rounds on WhatsApp. I was in Manipur and have many friends there...The song in the video says, ‘Call us Nepali, call us ‘chinkis’, but we are still Indians,’” Justice Kumar said.

The judge called for greater sensitivity towards discrimination faced by people from the North East.

The Court was was hearing a plea concerning the welfare of people from North East India residing in different parts of the country. In the last hearing on February 17, the Court had directed the monitoring committee to address incidents of racial discrimination and to meet every three months.

Today, the Court noted that pursuant to the said order, a meeting of the committee was held on March 15. However, the minutes did not indicate the next proposed date of meeting.

“It would be appropriate that the minutes of each meeting indicate the proposed next date, which would not be binding, as it would be open to the Committee to meet earlier if the situation so warrants," the Court ordered.

The Bench also expressed concern over the level of representation at the meeting.

“Look at the people who attended the meeting. In our order, we had also referred to Ms. Neha Dhiman, Under Secretary, Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region. This lady has not even attended the meeting,” the Court said.

Counsel for the Union submitted that a Director had attended the meeting.

The Court, however, remained unconvinced.

"...this monitoring committee is in relation to the welfare of North East people. All persons involved with the North Eastern region should at least be there,” the Bench said.

The Court accordingly adjourned the matter to enable the committee to take forward the issues discussed in the March 15 meeting.

The matter will now be taken up on July 15.

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