Tribal Affairs Ministry Refuses RTI on Any Kuki Tribes Deletion Proposal Citing Manipur Tensions

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has turned down a Right to Information request seeking details about a reported Manipur government proposal to remove the Any Kuki Tribes name from the state Scheduled Tribes list. Backing the stand taken by the ministry, Central Information Commissioner Ashutosh Chaturvedi ruled that sharing internal government files on this sensitive subject right now could trigger fresh anger and disturb public peace in Manipur.

The matter reached the Central Information Commission after an RTI applicant named Michael Haokip filed a plea asking for basic official records related to the reported state proposal. In his application, Haokip referred to a letter from the Manipur government dated July 25, 2024, which he claimed recommended deleting the Any Kuki Tribes entry from the Scheduled Tribes list and changing the name Any Mizo Lushai Tribe simply to Mizo.

Through his information request, Haokip had asked the central ministry to confirm whether it had actually received such a letter from Imphal. He also asked for the exact date when the letter arrived at the ministry, the official file number assigned to the paperwork, and copies of any follow up notes or actions taken by government officers so far.

When the Central Public Information Officer of the Tribal Affairs Ministry refused to share these details, the applicant challenged the decision before the Information Commission. During the hearing, Haokip argued that the ministry reply was unclear and failed to explain why routine administrative facts like a file number or a date of receipt could not be shared with a citizen. He also claimed that the ministry worries about law and order were vague and based on guesswork rather than solid proof.

However, officials representing the Tribal Affairs Ministry strongly defended their refusal during the hearing. They explained that Manipur has been going through severe ethnic unrest and delicate law and order conditions, making any discussion over tribal status extremely sensitive. The ministry told the commission that releasing internal proposals, letters, and unfinished discussions before a final decision is reached could spark misunderstanding and deepen divides between different communities living in the state.

Ministry representatives also pointed out that changing the official Scheduled Tribes list is a long and careful constitutional process. Whenever a state government sends a proposal to add, remove, or rename a community on the list, the central ministry must consult both the Registrar General of India and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Even after those checks are done, no change can happen unless Parliament passes a formal law.

According to the ministry, sharing half finished files while these official checks are still underway could put unfair pressure on decision makers and allow outside groups to interfere with independent administrative work. Officials added that in the past, early leaks or disclosures about community status notifications in sensitive regions have led to street protests and public disorder.

After listening to both sides, Information Commissioner Ashutosh Chaturvedi agreed with the ministry assessment of the ground situation. In his order, he noted that the larger public interest in keeping peace and harmony in Manipur outweighs the benefit of revealing internal government discussions at this stage. The commission even examined whether harmless parts of the documents could be shared after hiding sensitive names and lines under Section 10 of the RTI Act, but finally decided against releasing even edited copies of the files.

For ordinary citizens and tribal families in Manipur, official Scheduled Tribes status carries deep social, cultural, and economic meaning because it governs access to education seats, government jobs, and land protection rules. Because the state has already suffered painful divisions over the past few years, authorities are treading carefully so that administrative paperwork does not become a spark for fresh trouble on the ground.

With the Central Information Commission upholding the refusal, all files, letters, and action notes connected to the reported Any Kuki Tribes deletion proposal will remain confidential for now. Until the formal review and consultation stages are completed through proper legal channels, the government has made it clear that protecting public calm in Manipur remains its top priority.