PTS 245 The Manipur Crisis: A Constitutional Challenge

🔆The Manipur Crisis: A Constitutional Challenge

📍The Escalating Violence :

✅The violence in Manipur has escalated, leading to displacement and loss of life.

✅The state government has struggled to contain the situation.

✅The central government has intervened but has faced criticism for its handling of the crisis.

✅The Role of the Constitution

The Constitution's provisions for federalism, diversity management, and special provisions for states like Manipur are relevant to the crisis.

✅The Sixth Schedule and Article 371C provide for special autonomy to certain regions.

✅The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in interpreting and upholding these provisions.

📍Challenges in Reconciling Identities :

✅The crisis highlights the challenges of reconciling different identities within Manipur.

✅The conflict has exposed deep-seated divisions among the Meitei and Kuki communities.

✅Addressing these divisions requires a comprehensive approach.

📍The Need for Constitutional Pragmatism :

✅The Constitution has shown its flexibility in adapting to changing circumstances.

✅It has been used to reconcile competing interests and preserve unity.

✅The current crisis provides an opportunity for the Constitution to demonstrate its adaptability once again.

📍Case Studies of Constitutional Accommodation and Peace Building Through Special Provisions

✅The Case of Constitutional Accommodation in Sikkim

Inclusion of Article 371F

Sikkim’s accession to India in 1975 brought about the inclusion of Article 371F, which provided special constitutional safeguards to the state.

✅One of the key features of this article was the empowerment of Parliament to protect the rights and interests of different sections of Sikkim's population.

✅By recognising the unique socio-political history of Sikkim, this provision allowed for power-sharing arrangements that catered to the distinct cultural identities of communities like the Bhutia-Lepcha.

🔸For example, the Representation of Peoples Act of 1951 was amended to reserve seats for different communities in the state legislature, ensuring their voices were adequately represented.

✅SC Judgement on Constitutionality of Article 371F

In the landmark R.C. Poudyal case (1993), the constitutionality of Article 371F was challenged, with arguments that the increased representation of certain communities went against the principle of proportional reservation.

✅The Supreme Court, however, upheld the provision, reasoning that historical and cultural considerations justified the arrangement.

✅This judgment was significant because it recognised that reconciling diversity sometimes requires deviations from strict proportionality, allowing for greater flexibility in governance structures to maintain stability.

UPSC Questions

✅Prelims: Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for special provisions for states like Manipur? 

A) Article 356

B) Article 352

C) Article 355

D) Article 371C

✅Mains: Discuss the challenges faced by India in managing the crisis in Manipur. What are the key factors contributing to the violence, and how can the Constitution be used to promote peace and reconciliation in the region?

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पत्ता :- परमाणु टेस्ट सिरीज ॲप ऑफिस , टिळक स्मारक मंदिराशेजरी सदाशिव पेठ , पुणे - 411030

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