Gauhati HC Dismisses MP Naba Sarania’s Plea against ST Status Revocation

The Gauhati High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition filed by two-time MP Naba Sarania, challenging a State Level Scrutiny Committee’s decision to revoke his Scheduled Tribe (Plains) status.

The Judge

Assam’s advocate general Devajit Saikia informed that a single-judge bench of Justice S K Medhi passed the order. Saikia stated, “The honorable court dismissed his writ petition, and did not grant him any additional relief, essentially preventing him from contesting from any constituency reserved for ST or other categories.”

About the Petitioner

Sarania, who has served as the representative for the Kokrajhar (ST) constituency in the Lower House of Parliament since 2014 as an independent, declared his intention to vie for a third consecutive term from the same seat in the upcoming polls scheduled for May 7. He challenged a ‘speaking order’ issued by the SLSC on January 12, 2024, wherein he was determined not to belong to the ST (P) community.

The state’s Department of Tribal Affairs (Plains) later issued an order on January 20, revoking Sarania’s caste certificate, which had been issued to him on October 17, 2011. Sarania argued that he is affiliated with the Boro Kachari community, which holds the status of ST (P), and he serves as a Member of Parliament in a constituency designated for this community.

Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, Other Courts, International, Opinion Analysis