The Gauhati High Court has reversed a previous single-judge bench ruling that granted interim relief to Lok Sabha MP Naba Sarania in a case challenging his Scheduled Tribe (Plains) (ST-P) status. Sarania, who has represented Assam’s Kokrajhar Lok Sabha seat since 2014, faced scrutiny over his tribal status.
In a recent judgment, a two-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi, directed Sarania’s writ petition, initially filed before the single-judge bench, to be expedited for final resolution, given the urgency with the upcoming polls scheduled for May 7.
“We are of the view that the impugned order passed by the learned single judge cannot be sustained and the same is therefore set aside,” stated the bench, comprising Justice Suman Shyam. The court ordered Sarania’s writ petition to be listed for “final disposal” on April 5, responding to a case filed by the Assam government and four other parties contesting the previous single-judge bench’s order from March 27. That order had stayed a January 2024 decision against Sarania, preserving his tribal status until the writ petition was resolved.
The controversy arose following Sarania’s challenge to a January 12, 2024 “speaking order” of the State Level Scrutiny Committee (SLSC), which declared him not a member of the ST(P) community.
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Subsequently, the state Department of Tribal Affairs (Plains) revoked Sarania’s caste certificate, issued on October 17, 2011, on January 20. Sarania argued that he belongs to the Boro Kachari community, which holds ST (P) status, and thus rightfully represents a Lok Sabha constituency designated for it.
Also Read: Assam: Mother of late sub-inspector Junmoni Rabha withdraws case