The Manipur High Court has ordered that the Census in the state stay on hold until April 30, 2027.
The order was passed on November 4, 2026.
Census house-listing is the first phase of the 2027 Census. It was due to start in Manipur on September 1.
The Centre postponed it on August 31, a day before it was to begin.
Why was the count stopped? Ethnic violence that began in May 2023 forced thousands of people to leave their homes.
Some groups also want the National Register of Citizens (NRC) updated before the census starts.
Key points
- The Census in Manipur stays on hold until April 30, 2027.
- The court asked the Centre to examine seven written requests and give a reasoned decision.
- Other people can send more requests by November 25, 2026.
- Groups want NRC updated first, citing displacement from 2023 violence.
What exactly did the court decide?
The court closed two court cases. One was filed by Imphal resident Shanta Singh Nahakpam.
The other was filed by two groups, the Kangleipak Students' Association and the International Peace and Social Advancement.
These two cases are different from the seven requests.
The seven requests are written submissions, called representations, sent by civil society groups and others.
The court asked the Registrar General of India and the Census Commissioner to examine all seven requests.
They must issue one common order explaining their reasons.
- May 2023Ethnic violence began, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.
- August 31The Centre postponed the census a day before it was to begin.
- September 1Census house-listing was due to start in Manipur.
- November 4, 2026The Manipur High Court passed its order keeping the census on hold.
- April 30, 2027The final order on the seven requests must be completed by this date.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
So what happens next for the census?
The Centre may hold public consultations if it thinks they are needed. If not, it must give its reasons in the order.
The final order must be completed by April 30, 2027.
It must be shared with the petitioners' lawyers within five working days of issue.
So why does this matter for people in Manipur?
The petitioners argued that an accurate count is not possible while thousands remain displaced.
They also said census data could affect the redrawing of Assembly constituency boundaries, called delimitation.
The Centre's decision came after a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Explainer
What happened before
- Ethnic violence that began in May 2023 forced thousands of people in Manipur to flee their homes.
- On August 31, the Centre deferred census operations in Manipur, a day before house-listing was to begin.
- The Centre and the state government had already issued notifications keeping the census in the state on hold.
Why it matters
The census counts people in every state, and Manipur's count could affect how Assembly constituency boundaries are drawn.
