Judgment & Order (Oral):
M. Sundar, C.J.
[1] The following abbreviations/short forms have been used in this order (for sake of brevity, convenience and clarity):
[2] Mr. N. Jotendro, learned senior advocate instructed by Md. Abdul Baqee Khan, learned counsel on record for PIL petitioners who are also MC applicants is before this Court (Physical Court).
[3] Subject matter of captioned PIL is grants from the Union to the State of Manipur which shall be charged on Consolidated Fund of India as grants-in-aid vide Article 275(1) of Constitution of India for the financial years 2025-2026 onwards.
[4] Case of the PIL petitioners is that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India has issued Revised Guidelines dated 30-12-2025 for allocation of funds and implementation of programs/activities vide Article 275 of the Constitution of India and the Proviso thereat. PIL petitioners, after taking the RTI route and getting details inter alia pertaining to construction of ten multipurpose-cum-community halls and the beneficiary selection list under livelihood scheme have come to this Court complaining inter alia of lack of parity in allocation/implementation by State Government.
[5] Five representations dated 02-05-2026; 26-05-2026; 03-06-2026; 03-06-2026, received by Addl. Chief Secretary/Chief Secretary on the same dates itself and one undated representation which was received by Addl. Chief Secretary on 26-05-2026, (collectively referred to as ‘said representations’ for the sake of convenience and clarity) have been sent on the afore-referred subject but there is no response and this has necessitated the filing of captioned PIL together with captioned MC thereat is learned counsel’s say.
[6] Issue notice.
[7] Mr. S. Chittaranjan, learned Addl. A.G. for State of Manipur along with Mr. Y. Max, learned State counsel who are present in this Court accept notice for R-2 to R-4. Mr. S. Kaminikumar, leaned Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC) accepts notice for R-1.
[8] To be noted, at this juncture this Court deems it appropriate to write that it is to be noted that as regards the captioned matter, R-1 is more in the nature of a formal party being grantor qua grants vide Article 275(1).
[9] As regards R-2 to R-4, learned Addl. A.G. for the State of Manipur submits that said representations shall be examined and R-3 (The Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Commissioner, Tribal Affairs & Hills Department, Government of Manipur) will make proceedings/orders on the same.
[10] In the light of the afore-referred fair stand taken by the learned Addl. A.G., learned senior counsel for PIL petitioners, on instructions, descopes the prayers in captioned PIL (for the present) and submits that the proceedings/ orders qua said representations to be made by R-3 may please be directed to be made within a time frame with a further direction to serve the same on the counsel on record for PIL petitioners.
[11] In the light of the narrative thus far, with the consent of the learned senior counsel and counsel on both sides, main PIL is taken up in the admission Board itself dispensing with the need to file an affidavit-in-opposition and also give a closure to the main PIL vide directions which shall be set out infra.
[12] Before doing so, this Court deems it appropriate to set out the scanned reproduction of said representations (5 representations) and the same are as follows:
[13] In the light of narrative and trajectory the captioned matter has taken in the admission Board, the following order is made:
i. R-3 shall take up said representations (5 representations - scanned and reproduced supra in instant order), consider the same on its own merits in accordance with law, particularly in accordance with Article 275 and more particularly clause (1) of Article 275 of the Constitution and dispose of the same by making speaking proceedings/order;
ii. Afore-referred exercise of making speaking proceedings/order disposing of said representations ( 5 representations ) shall be completed by R-3 as expeditiously as the official business of R-3 would permit but in any event within 6(six) weeks from today i.e. on or before 16-09-2026;
iii. The speaking proceedings/order made in the aforesaid manner by R-3 shall be served under due acknowledgment on Mr. Md. Abdul Baqee Khan, learned counsel on record for PIL petitioners and MC applicants within three working days from the date on which the proceedings/order are made and such service shall be construed as the service made on the PIL petitioners. To be noted, learned counsel on record for the PIL petitioners consents to this and submits that he has necessary instructions from PIL petitioners in this regard;
iv. If the PIL petitioners/MC applicants or any other person concerned for the matter is either not satisfied with or aggrieved by speaking proceedings/order made in the aforesaid manner, it is open to the PIL petitioners and or any other person concerned for the matter to come to this Court or approach any other Fora, for this purpose all rights and contentions made by PIL petitioners in captioned PIL and captioned MC are preserved and if such a scenario unfurls, though obvious, it is made clear that such a petition will be considered on its own merit and in accordance with law by this Court or any other Forum/Fora which is approached;
v. This Court deems it appropriate to write (though obvious) that the afore-referred speaking proceedings/order shall give relevant data as necessary with clarity and specificity.
[14] Afore-referred main PIL is disposed of as closed in the aforesaid manner albeit with afore-referred directions, observations and preservation of rights and contentions. Consequently, afore-referred MC therein above is also given a closure and the same is also disposed of as closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
