http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 1 of 12  

PETITIONER: SHRI HEIKHAM SURCHANDRA SINGH & ORS. ETC.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: THE REPRESENTATIVE OF "LIOS" KAKCHING,MANIPUR (A SCHEDULED C

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       09/10/1996

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G.B. PATTANAIK

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                             WITH              CIVIL APPEAL Nos. 14513-24 OF 1996       [Arising out of SLP (C) Nos. 8499-8505 of 1996]                          O R D E R      Leave granted.      We have heard learned counsel on both sides.      These appeals  by special  leave arise  from the common judgment of  the Division  Bench of  the High  of  Guwahati, Imphal Bench  made on  November 17,  1995 in  Civil Rule No. 800/94 and batch.      The admitted  position is  that when  the President  of India, exercising  the power  under Article  341(1)  of  the Constitution, had  issued  Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled Tribes Order,  1950 "Louis"  was declared as Scheduled Caste but  not  throughout  the  State.  It  was  amended  by  the Scheduled Castes  and Scheduled Tribes (Amendment) Act, 1956 (53  of   1956)  and   Scheduled  Castes   Scheduled  Tribes (Amendment) Act,  1976.  Consequently,  "Lios"  came  to  be declared as  a  Scheduled  Caste  for  the  purpose  of  the Constitution in  relation to the entire State of Manipur. We are informed  that the  total population  of  all  Scheduled Castes including  Lios in  Tripura State  is 16000. It would appear  that   after  the   residents  of  Kakching  village belonging to  "Lios" caste  had obtained  2500  certificates showing their  social status  as Scheduled  Castes  for  the purpose of  the Constitution,  it would appear that an issue as regards  their status  as Scheduled  Castes gave  rise to agitation by  people residing in eight villages. A statutory Commission consisting of a retired High Court Judge, Justice V. Ibotombi Singh of Assam High Court and two other members, one of  which was  a sociologist, was constituted to enquire into the  status of  the members  of Lois  in the  State  of Manipur and  to recommend  as to  who were the persons among them entitled  to the  benefit of  the status  of  Scheduled Castes under  Article 341 and also to suggest remedial steps in that  behalf. Pursuant thereto, a report was submitted by the Commission on February 28, 1993 after detailed survey of the issue  and  enquiry.  In  that  report,  the  Commission pointed out in paragraph 25 as under:      "on the  other hand, the members of

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 2 of 12  

    the Loi  community living  in these      villages other  than the  8 (eight)      villages mentioned  above  did  not      claim themselves  to be  members of      the Scheduled Caste for more than 3      decades.   Hence,    it   is    our      irresistible  conclusion  that  the      expression loi  in the  President’s      Notification included  only the Loi      population  living   in   these   8      (eight)  villages,  Sekmj  (Awang),      Phayeng,     Khurkhul,     Koukruk,      Laimaram,  Kwatha  Laimaram  Khunon      (Jairenpokpi) and Andro."      In paragraphs 50 to 57, the Commission had recorded its conclusion as under:      50. Admittedly,  these 10  villages      viz.,  Kakching   Khullen,  Pallel,      Waikhong, Kakching Khunou, Chairel,      Wangoo,  Sagnu,  Moirang,  Khamaran      and Thanga  plus 16 others villages      of  this  State  were  historically      Lois in the true connotation of the      term   like   those   specified   8      Scheduled   Caste   Loi   villages.      Certainly, caste  system has not be      working in  Manipur as  strictly as      in the  rest of  the country.  Yet,      consequent upon the mass conversion      of the  Meitei into  Hinduism since      the  18th   century,   caste,   the      backbone  of   all   Hindu   social      orders, system  in a  way  whatever      different it  may be  from cases in      the rest  of the  Hindu  world.  In      fact, the uniqueness of Hindu caste      system lies in its differences from      one  region  to  another  and  even      within  the   same  region.   As  a      corollary of  the new  social order      organised on  the caste  line,  the      chunk  of   people  who   had  been      Excommunicated  from   the   social      mainstream  under  the  designation      Lois came  to be  treated as  being      enter  or   to  the   caste  Meitei      society. Mention  may be  made here      that  many  of  the  prisoners  and      social offenders  exiled to the Loi      villages had  been  Hindu  converts      and  as   such  through   them  the      original Loi villagers were brought      under  the   minimal  influence  of      Hinduism.  However,  on  ground  of      being  Lois   by   birth   and   by      banishment, this  class  of  people      formed  a  distinct  population  of      local    exterior    caste    whose      relationship with the caste Meiteis      was markedly  characterised by  the      taboo  of  inter-marriage  and  co-      dinning.      51. Probably, peculiar of the local      caste system,  and the  same  time,      the erstwhile Loi villages that had

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 3 of 12  

    been subjected  to  the  stigma  of      untouchability were again gradually      absorbed  into   the  Meitei   body      social on  the condition  of  their      conversion into  Hinduism with  the      necessary  approval   of  the  them      kings. What  remain have been those      8 villages covered by the Scheduled      Caste Lois. The peoples in this lot      of 8 (eight) villages are till date      taken together  traditional customs      and  practices   of   manufacturing      country    and     practices     of      manufacturing    country    liquor,      drinking it  and relishing part, as      a collective  way of cultural life,      though, to  be  candid,  they  also      practice since  long  some  of  the      superficial  cultural   traits   of      Hinduism after  the  model  of  the      Meitei,  rather   in  the  mode  of      fashion.      52. All  this  unmistakably  speaks      eloquently of  the  differentiation      and,     for      that      matter,      categorisation, in  later  part  of      history  of   the  Lois   into  two      distinct classes  that one observes      today in  the  contemporary  larger      Meitei society. Most probably, well      cognizant of this fact of dichotomy      of  the  Lois,  Shri  P.C.  Methew,      Chief    Commissioner     to    the      Government of  Manipur  recommended      the names of only those specified 8      (eight) villages  for inclusion  in      the list of Scheduled Castes at the      time of  revision of  the said list      in 1956.      53. Crucially  needful to the above      point, it  may be reckoned with the      fact  that   Classification  of   a      peripheral Hindu or Sikh people for      recognition/inclusion in  the  list      of Scheduled  Castes rests  on  the      indisputable, simple  criterion  of      untouchability       or        near      untouchability,     a     disabling      condition   resulting    from   the      people’s    exterior,    peripheral      position in  relation to  the caste      Hindu mainstream.  Now, put  to the      test of  this criterion the case of      the other  Lois than  the Scheduled      Castes Lois  provides the Committee      no  rational  point  for  its  self      justification   of    giving    any      suggestion   to    the    authority      concerned  for   consideration   of      recognition/inclusion of this class      of people  in point  as members  of      Scheduled  Castes.   We  take   the      privilege of  passing this  comment      in so  far as  advised is sought by      the Government  of Manipur from the

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 4 of 12  

    Committee on  the matter  in issue.      This class  of Lois  stands  rather      much closer  to  the  caste  Meitei      pole  of   the  Meitei-Loi   social      continuum.      54.  What  with  the  traditionally      less strict  feature of  castism in      Manipur as  compared with its scene      in the  rest of  the Hindu universe      and what  with  the  massive  caste      eradication programs  undertaken by      the Governmental  of India  on  the      strength of  special provisions  in      the   Indian    Constitution,   the      dehumanising  social  situation  of      untouchability  in  this  state  of      Manipur  may   be  said   to   have      significantly  diminished   in  its      magnitude now.  The concept of Lois      as  a   social  institution  as  it      worked in  history during  the days      of the Meitei monarchs, too, is not      now  fully  operative.  Payment  of      tributes to  the then  Meitei Lords      had been  stopped with  the British      occupation  and  administration  of      Manipur. It  is all  administration      of Manipur.  It  is  all  the  more      expected to be completely free from      any  such   social   complexes   as      involved  in   the  historical  Loi      institution  and  the  position  of      exterior castes  in these  days  of      democracy    in     our    country.      Repetition of  the expression  Lois      as the  name of  a Scheduled Castes      community is  indeed shown  of  any      idea   of    invoking    the    old      institution of  Lois it  is sheerly      for the  administrative purpose  of      the   Government    of   India   in      scheduling certain  really Backward      Classes for  special protection  of      the people  thereof, among whom the      Lois   of   8   (eight)   specified      villages of  Manipur have been duly      recognised as one.      55.   Despite    these   facts   of      contemporary  social  situation  of      Loi castism  of  untouchability  or      near  untouchability   in  Manipur,      continuity of  this  phenomenon  in      its residual forms looms large till      date. As  a matter  of  fact,  this      lingering residue  of history still      works behind  the  fact  of  social      distance standing  between the  so-      called Lois  and the  core Meiteis,      particularly  in   the  matter   of      marriage. Owing  to  this  reasons,      cases of inter-marriage between the      core Meiteis  and persons  from any      of the eight villages the Scheduled      Caste Lois  are very  few  and  far      between, the  frequency being  thus

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 5 of 12  

    left  far  short  of  the  expected      quantum. Some such similar scene of      social distance,  in lesser  degree      undoubtedly, has  been observed  in      the relationship of the core Meitei      with the  Lois of  the other class,      too,   vis-a-vis    the    letter’s      assimilation   into    the    socio      religious order  of the  former,  a      scene that  presupposes rather  low      position of this class of people in      the  local   social  hierarchy.  Of      late, inter-marriage  of the meitei      of higher social status with people      of this  class  of  erstwhile  Lois      have  occurred,  admittedly,;  but,      these  are   conditional   of   the      educational     attainments     and      affluent economic  standings of the      individual spouses  from the latter      group, and  these too  mostly  when      they settle  at the urban areas. At      the  group   level,  however,  they      remain   still,   more   or   less,      victimised  under  the  old  social      stigma of looking down upon them.      56. It  is in consideration of this      relative  social   backwardness  of      this integral  section of people of      the  caste  Hindu  Meritei  society      that it  is hereby  being suggested      by the  Committee with a humanistic      and egalitarianist  concern for the      people in  point to  the Government      of Manipur as an alternative course      of action  for the  act of taking a      decision over  the issue,  the idea      of examining  in the  case of  this      class of people could be considered      in      favour       of       their      recognition/inclusion in  the  list      of  Other   Backward  Classes,   of      course, within  the parameters  not      only of  their social  backwardness      but    also    their    educational      backwardness as so laid down in the      Constitution  of   India  for  such      purpose. It  would be worthwhile to      mention here that the Government of      Manipur has  not so  far framed its      State list  of  OBCs.  In  case  of      acceptance  of  this  suggestion  a      separate elaborate inquiry is asked      for  to   evolve   an   appropriate      scientific methodology.  If some or      all, as  the case  may be,  of  the      said class of Lois are found social      and educationally  backward by  the      test of  the criteria set up by the      acceptably   adopted   methodology,      they  may   rightly  be   put,  for      administrative purpose,  under  the      label "Other Backward Lois."      57.   TERM    NO.   3:   "to   give      recommendation  regarding  validity

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 6 of 12  

    on    an     approximately     2500      certificates issued  by the  Deputy      Commissioner,  Thoabal  during  the      period from March, 1992 onwards."      While deciding  term No. 2, we have      already  held  that  the  term  Loi      mentioned   in    the   President’s      Notification includes  only the Loi      population  of   the  8   villages,      namely,  Sekmai  (Awang),  Phayeng,      Khurkhul,    Koutruk,     Laimaram,      Laimaram   Khunon    (Tairenpokpi),      Kwatha  and   Andro  and  that  the      expression Loi  does not  cover the      Loi population  of the remaining 26      villages. There  is, therefore,  no      doubt that  the Loi  population  of      Kakching village  are not  included      in the  expression Loi mentioned in      the  President’s  Notification.  It      follows,   therefore,    that   the      Scheduled    Caste     certificates      numbering about  2500 issued by the      District   Magistrate    and    his      subordinate officers  are not valid      in the  eye  of  law.  Further,  on      perusal of  the records, it is seen      that the  District  Magistrate  and      his  subordinate   offices   issued      Scheduled    Caste     certificates      arbitrarily without  making  proper      inquiry as  to the  genuineness  of      the claims  of the  petitioners. It      is  to   be  noted  here  that  the      absence  of  proper  inquiry  would      permit an  inference that they were      not even  aware of  the vital  fact      and    that    they    mechanically      proceeded to issue the certificates      which would  unmistakably  indicate      that there  was non  application of      mind to the most relevant fact. Any      order   of   this   nature   passed      mechanically  with  application  of      mind of the competent authority) is      liable to  be set aside as invalid.      The District  Magistrate issued one      such certificate  in favour  of one      Rameshwar Singh  (one of  the  2500      certificate holders)  on the  basis      of the  direction of the Government      of Manipur  which was  communicated      to  him   by  one  Under  Secretary      without making  any Under Secretary      without making  any inquiry for his      subjective satisfaction  as to  the      genuineness of  the claim.  We have      stated above and we repeat it again      that while  doing so,  the District      Magistrate was  acting as  a rubber      stamp   of   the   Government   and      therefore the certificate issued by      him in favour of Rameshwar Singh is      invalid. There  is no  dispute that      the competent  authorities to issue

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 7 of 12  

    Scheduled  Castes  certificate  are      District Magistrate, Sub Divisional      Magistrate,  etc.   and   not   the      Government of  Manipur.  Therefore,      the district  Magistrate could  not      issue the  certificate in favour of      Rameshwar Singh  on the  advice  or      direction of the Government without      making   any    inquiry   for   his      subjective satisfaction. It appears      that the  District  Magistrate  was      quite ignorant of this simple legal      position. The certificate purported      to have been issued by the District      Magistrate, Thoabal  was, in  fact,      made by  the Government  of Manipur      and the  District Magistrate merely      acted as  the mouth  piece  of  the      Government  and,   therefore,   the      certificate issued by him in favour      of  Rameshwar  Singh  was  invalid.      After all, the power exercisable by      the  District  Magistrate  and  his      subordinate officers is a statutory      power which  can be  exercised only      by  them.   It  appears   that  the      District  Magistrate,  Thoabal  has      lost sight  of this  aspect when he      issued the certificates."      The    Government     accepted     the     Commission’s recommendations by  its proceedings  dated July  6, 1994 and acted upon  the Report.  In the  meanwhile, directions  were issued on  June 30,  1994 that the caste certificates issued to the  aforesaid persons from Kakching village would not be acted upon.  Calling this action in question, writ petitions came to  be filed.  The High Court in the impugned order had held that  the impugned  order of  the  Government  was  not sustainable in the light of the Presidential Order, However, a direction  was given that the Scheduled Caste Certificates issued to  the inhabitants of Kakching area shall be subject to the  appropriate legislation  that may  be passed  on the basis of  the enquiry report. As against the quashing of the order, the  appeal arising  out of  SLP (C)  No. 3408/96 was filed and as regards para 34, the respondents have filed the appeals arising  out of  SLP (C)  Nos.  8499-8505/96.  Thus, these appeals by special leave.      Shri R.F.  Nariman,  learned  senior  counsel  for  the appellants, contended  that in view of the findings recorded by the  statutory Commission  appointed by  the  Government, though  "Lois"  has  been  declared  as  a  Scheduled  caste throughout the State, except the persons who really have the status of the Scheduled Castes or of Lois are inhabitants of the  eight   villages,  namely,   Sekmai  (Awang),  Phayeng, Khurkhul, Koutruk,  Laimaram, Laimaram Khunon (Tairenpokpi), Kwatha and Andro, the people from other villages do not have the said  status. In  support thereof,  he relies  upon  the report of  I. Seshimeran Aier, Commissioner and P.C. Mathew, Commissioner appointed  by the  State Government to identify the Scheduled castes for the purpose of amending the list of Scheduled Castes  before coming  inhabiting in  these  eight villages alone  are the  members of  the  Scheduled  Castes. Others, though  historically Lois,  were assimilated  in the mainstream of the Neither Hindu society. Therefore, they are not entitled  to the  benefit of  the  status  of  Scheduled Castes  for  the  purpose  of  the  Constitution.  But  they

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 8 of 12  

recommended to  the Government  for consideration  of  their social and  educational  backwardness  after  identification under Article  340 of  the Constitution.  This material does indicate that  the Lois  inhabiting in  rest of 18 villages, though historically considered to be Lois, are, in fact, not Lois and  they are  not entitled  to the status of Scheduled Castes. The High Court, therefore, was not right in quashing the notification issued by the Government.      Dr. Shankar  Ghosh,  learned  senior  counsel  for  the respondents, on  behalf of  2500 recipients of social status as Scheduled  Castes, on  the other  hand, contended that in view of  the Presidential notification issued after the 1976 [Amendment] Act,  declaring Lois  is the State of Manipur as Scheduled castes,  it is  neither permissible  for the State Government nor  for the  Court to  subtract their  status as Scheduled Castes  by receiving any evidence from any source, whether laid by the parties or by the Commission. Therefore, the certificates  issued to  the persons in Kakching village are valid  in law  and that  para 34  of the judgment of the High Court  requires to be set aside and it does not warrant interference with the rest of the conclusions reached by the Division Bench.      In view  of the  respective contentions,  the  question that arises  for consideration is; whether the view taken by the High  Court is correct in law? This Court has considered the controversy  in catena  of  decisions.  Article  366(24) defines "Scheduled Castes" and Article 341(1) gives power to the President  in respect of any State or Union Territory to identify the  Scheduled  Castes  in  consultation  with  the Governor of  the  State  and  issue  a  public  notification specifying the  Scheduled Castes  for  the  purpose  of  the Constitution. The  Scheduled Castes  so specified,  shall be subject to  law made  by the Parliament under Article 341(2) of the  Constitution. The  list of the Scheduled Castes thus published in respect of each of the State shall be final and conclusive.      The question  whether Bhovi  is  a  voddar  caste,  the latter having been declared by the Presidential notification to be a Scheduled Caste, had come up for consideration in B. Basavalingappa vs.  D. Munichinnappa [(1965) 1 SCR 316]. The Constitution Bench  considering the  question had  held that "the  power   was  given   to  Parliament   to  modify   the notification made  by the President under clause (1). Clause (2) further  goes on  to provide  that a notification issued under clause  (1) shall  not be  varied  by  any  subsequent notification, thus  making the notification by the President final for  all times  except  for  modification  by  law  as provided by  clause (2).  Clearly,  therefore,  Article  341 provides for a notification and for its finality except when altered by  Parliament by  law. Therefore,  in view  of this stringent provision  of the  Constitution with  respect to a notification issued  under clause (1), it is not open to any one to  include any  caste as coming within the notification on the basis of evidence - oral or documentary - if caste in question does  not find  specific mention  in the  terms  of notification."  This   view  was   reiterated   by   another Constitution Bench in Bhaiyalal vs. Harikishan Singh [(1965) 2 SCR  877]. The  question was  reconsidered in  Srish Kumar Choudhury vs.  State of Tripura [(1990) 1 SCR 576]. Therein, the Laskar  community claimed the status of Scheduled Tribes in Tripura  State. The  Presidential  notification  did  not specifically deal with them by express notification but they claimed the  status of  Jamatia,  Notia  which  is  a  Tribe notified by  the President. Dealing with that question, this Court, after  considering the  above two  Constitution Bench

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 9 of 12  

judgment and  other judgments,  had held that as a result of the detailed  enquiry made  as to  the economic  status, the level  of   education  and   the  necessity  of  protection, inclusion into  or exclusion  from the  Order requires to be made by  the President  and, therefore,  it is for the State Government  to   make  necessary   recommendations  to   the President for  taking  appropriate  action  whether  Laskars would  be   included  as  Scheduled  Tribes  by  appropriate amendment. In  this behalf, until that was done, it was held that it  was not  permissible for  the Court  to receive any evidence to consider whether they are Schedules Tribes.      The question was also examined in Palghat Jilla Thandan Samudhaya Samrakshna  Samityi vs.  State of Kerala [(1994) 1 SCC 357].  Therein, another  Bench of  three Judges had held that Thandans  in Kerala State were declared to be Scheduled Castes. The  High Court  directed an enquiry whether Ezhavas or  Thiyyas   are  other   Backward  Classes  (Tappers)  are Thandans. This  Court had  held that  the enquiry  that  was ordered by  the High  Court to  find out  whether there  was community called  Thandan distinct  from Ezhava  in  Palghat District in areas other than the erstwhile Chittur Taluk and also in  any other  place in the erstwhile Malabar District, was not  permissible to  be made since neither the Court nor the State  Government has any power to amend or subtract the list  published   by  the   President  and,  therefore,  the direction issued  by the  High Court was not correct in law. Accordingly  a   direction  was  given  to  issue  necessary certificates until  the Order was amended by the Parliament. Unfortunately, it was not brought to the notice of the Court that they are Other Backward Class (Tappers) and, therefore, similar question  was considered  by this Court in Nityanand Sharma &  Anr. vs.  State of  Bihar &  Ors. [JT  1996 (2) SC 117]. Therein  Lohars were  not included  in  the  Scheduled Tribes in  the State  of Bihar.  They claimed  the status of Scheduled Tribes.  Lohars are  only blacksmiths while Lohras are the  Scheduled Tribes  notified by  the President.  This Court had  held that it was not permissible for the Court to consider whether  Lohars are  Lohras who  are declared to be Scheduled  Tribes.  In  Kumari  Madhuri  Patel  &  Ors.  vs. Additional Commissioner,  Tribal Development  & Ors.  [(1984 (6) SCC  241], a Bench of two Judges, to which one of us (K. Ramaswamy, J.) was a member had to consider whether Kolis, a Backward Class  in Maharashtra  would be declared as Mahadeo Koli, a Scheduled Tribe in Maharashtra. Despite the cultural advancement, the  genetic traits  pass on from generation to generation and  no one  could escape  or forget  or get them over. The  tribal customs  are peculiar  to  each  tribe  or tribal communities and still being maintained and preserved. Their  cultural   advancement  to   some  extent   may  have modernised and progressed but they would not be oblivious or ignorant of  their customary  and cultural past to establish their affinity  to the membership of a particular tribe. The tribe or  tribal communities,  parts, of  or groups  thereof have  their  peculiar  traits.  It  was  further  held  that Presidential   declaration,    subject   to   amendment   by Parliament, is  conclusive. No  addition to  it  by  way  of declaration of  castes, tribes  or sub-caste,  parts  of  or groups of  tribes or  tribal community is permissible. After an elaborate  survey of  the Constitutional  purpose and the relative caste  structures, customs,  marriages etc.  it was held that  Kolis are  Backward Class  and Mahadeo  Koli  are Scheduled Tribes.  The appellants  therein being  OBCs  were held not  entitled to  status as Scheduled Tribes. The Court has no  power to  declare synonymous  as equivalent  to  the tribes specified  in the  Order or  include in or substitute

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 10 of 12  

any caste/tribe  etc. It  would thus  be clear  that for the purpose of  the  Constitution,  "Scheduled  Tribes"  defined under Article  366(25) as substituted under the Act, and the Second Schedule  thereunder are  conclusive. Though evidence may be admissible to a limited extent of finding out whether the community  which claims the status as Scheduled Caste or Scheduled  Tribe  was  in  fact  include  in  the  concerned Schedule, the  Court is  devoid of  power to  include in  of exclude from or substitute or declare synonyms to be of to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe or parts thereof or group of  such  caste  or  tribe.  In  Valsamma  Paul  vs.  Cochin University &  Ors. [JT  1996 (1)  SC 571]  by virtue  of the marriage, the  appellant a forward class claimed status of a backward class.  The question arose: whether the could claim the said  status by  virtue of  being married  to a backward class (fishermen)?  It was held that she was not entitled to the said  status. The retrograde attempt to grab the benefit of and  distributive justice to the targetted group was held to be  prevented. It  would thus  be clear  and we hold that until  the   Presidential  notification   was  modified   by appropriate amendment by Parliament in exercise of the power under Article  341(2) of  the Constitution, the Presidential notification issued under Article 341(1) is final conclusive and it  cannot be  added to  any caste  or subtracted by any action either  by the  State Government  or by  a  court  on adduction of evidence.      The next  question is:  whether the Lois other than the Lois residing in the aforestated eight villages are entitled to claim  the status  as Scheduled  Castes. It  is right, as contended by  Dr. Ghosh,  that so  long as  the Presidential notification remains  unamended, everyone who is declared as Lois is entitled to the status of Scheduled Caste. But there is a  peculiar factual  situation prevailing in the State of Manipur as  historically collected  from the evidence by the two Commissioners  appointed by  the State Government before 1956 (Amendment)  Act and  also the  latest Commission whose findings have been extracted hereinbefore.      C.M.   Mathew,   Commissioner   had      stated thus:      "The Lois  are living  in the vally      and they  take meant  and liquor as      the scheduled tribes but unlike the      Scheduled Tribes when they die they      are cremated. Socially the Lois are      as little  better than Yaithibis in      the eyes  of the  caste Hindus. The      Lois  are   backward  and   deserve      special     consideration      from      Government for  the amelioration of      their condition.  I am,  therefore,      of opinion  that should be included      in the list of Scheduled Castes." I.   Shimaren Aiar,  Regional Assistant  Commissioner  after recording evidence had stated in 1953 thus:      "The  term  "Lois"  means  backward      class.   There   are   a   distinct      community,   different    in   many      aspects from  the manipuri  Meitei,      and to  a great  extent similar  to      those of the hill tribes. They have      been treated as untouchable for the      following reasons.      1. The  Lois  are  not  allowed  to      enter the  houses  of  the  Meiteis      (Manipuri Hindus).

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 11 of 12  

    2. The  main occupation of the Lois      are cultivation  and distilling  of      country liquor.      3.  Inter-marriage   and  co-dining      between the  Lois and  the  Meiteis      are prohibited.      4.  The   Lois  worship  goddes  of      nature.      5. The  Lois cremate  their deaths,      in this  respect they  are a kin to      the Hindus."      It would  thus be  seen that the Lois who are Scheduled Castes have  been subject  to the  disabilities mentioned by the two  Commissioners, Aier and Mathews and accepted by the statutory Commission.  In this  behalf, Articles  17, (15(2) and 46  furnish the  unimpeachable  historical  evidence  of disabilities to  which Scheduled Castes are subjected to and the Constitution  aimed to  remedy by  distributive justice, equality of  opportunity and  the  status  with  dignity  of person in  socio-economic and  political  democracy  and  to prevent their  exploitation. They  would furnish  as guiding principles to  solve the  given problem.  As stated earlier, the question is; who are entitled to the status of Scheduled Castes? It is not in dispute that though Lois residing in 26 villages other  than  the  eight  named  villages  mentioned hereinbefore, had not claimed the status as Scheduled Castes until March 1992, until the Commissioner of District Thoubal and  his   subordinates  had   issued  the   social   status certificates, for the first time, only to the 2500 residents of Kakching;  until then,  too did  not  village,  no  other residents in  other 17  villages have  claimed the status as Scheduled Castes  even after  1992 till  date. This material has not  been contradicted;  nor can it be contradicted. The Commission had  pointed out  that at  the direction  of  the Government one  Rameshwar Singh  was  issued  social  status certificate as  Scheduled Caste  without any  enquiry,. That would show  the enormity of the misuse of the power to claim false social status.      Under these  circumstances, though  the High  Court was right that  until the  amendment to  the List  has duly been made, the  Lois would be entitled to the status of Scheduled Castes, before  issuance of  the certificate  of status  the competent officer  should enquire  whether the  applicant is subjected to  the disabilities  which the  Scheduled  Castes have been  suffering. All  those who  satisfy these criteria alone are entitled to the issuance of certificates until the amendment is  duly made  by the Parliament under Article 341 (2) of  the Constitution. The High Court, therefore, was not right in  the conclusion  in paragraph  34 that  though  the certificates issued by the Commissioner including those 2500 certificate holders were valid, that would be subject to the law made by the Parliament. Any one who claims the status of Scheduled Castes  should satisfy the same criteria indicated by the Commissioners until the amendment is duly made by the Parliament under  Article 341(2)  of the Constitution and an enquiry should be conducted in that behalf.      The State  Government is  directed to  furnish  to  the President the  report submitted  by the Commission, referred to hereinbefore,  and all  other  material  for  appropriate action by  the  Central  Government  by  laying  before  the Parliament  to  effect  necessary  amendment  under  Article 341(2) of the Constitution.      The appeals  are accordingly  disposed of,  but, in the circumstances,                without                 costs.

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 12 of 12