>MPGuy2824 at 10:39, 2 February 2021

2021-02-02T10:39:59Z

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{{short description|Sikkimese people of Tibetan ancestry}}
{{use indian english|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Bhutia-Lepcha
| population = {{formatnum:112507}}
| region1 = {{flag|Sikkim|name=Sikkim, India}}
| pop1 = {{formatnum:112507}} (2011 census)
| ref1 = <ref name="Census India">{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|last=ORGI|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref>
| langs = [[Sikkimese language|Sikkimese]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Dzongkha]], [[Tibetan languages|Tibetan]], [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]]
| rels = [[Buddhism]], [[Bön]], [[Mun (religion)|Mun]]
}}

'''Bhuta-Lepcha''' is an ethnic grouping consisting of people of the [[Bhutia]] and [[Lepcha people|Lepcha]] communities in [[Sikkim]] state of India. Both these groups are listed as Scheduled Tribes by the Government of India.<ref>{{cite web |title=State/Union Territory-wise list of Scheduled Tribes in India |website=Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GOI |access-date=2015-09-19 |url=http://tribal.nic.in/content/list%20of%20scheduled%20tribes%20in%20India.aspx |archive-date=2016-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815233134/http://tribal.nic.in/content/list%20of%20scheduled%20tribes%20in%20India.aspx }}</ref>

After the implementation of the recommendations of the [[Delimitation Commission of India#Delimitation Commission of 2002|Delimitation Commission]], in 2002, 12 (out of 32) seats have been reserved for this group in the [[Sikkim Legislative Assembly]].<ref name="eci">{{cite web |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/7276-sikkim/ |title=Sikkim - Final Publication - Election Commission of India |website= |date= |author= |accessdate= 3 January 2021}}</ref>

== Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee ==
The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) is a group striving for the political rights of ethnic groups of Sikkimese, Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) and Nepalis of Sikkimese origin.<ref name="firstpost"/> In addition to the reservation for the BL in the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim, they argue for reservation in local body (panchayat) elections as well.<ref name="SIBLAC">{{cite web |url=http://www.siblac.org/aboutus.html |title=Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee - About us |website=www.siblac.org |accessdate= 19 January 2021}}</ref>

== Legal battles ==
In 1993, a case was brought in the [[Supreme Court of India]], challenging the reservation for the BL constituencies and for the [[Sangha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sangha]] constituency in Sikkim, by [[Ram Chandra Poudyal]]<ref name="firstpost">{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/sikkims-sangha-assembly-seat-is-a-perfect-example-of-the-states-unique-political-process-to-protect-minority-rights-6401101.html |title=Sikkim's Sangha Assembly seat is a perfect example of the state's unique political process to protect minority rights - Politics News |newspaper=Firstpost |date=6 April 2019 |author=Joydeep Sen Gupta |accessdate= 19 January 2021}}</ref> of the [[Rising Sun Party]]. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, judging that the reservations (or their quantity) aren't violating articles [[Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of India#Fundamental Rights|14]], 170(2) or 332 of the Constitution.<ref name="supremeCourt">{{cite web |url=https://main.sci.gov.in/jonew/judis/12205.pdf |title=R.C. Poudyal and ANR. Vs. Union of India and ORS. |quote="The reservation of seats for Bhutias and Lepchas is necessary because they constitute a minority and in the absence of reservation they may not have any representation in the Legislative Assembly. [...] That impugned provisions providing for reservation of 12 seats, out of 32 seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly in favour of Bhutias Lepchas, are neither unconstitutional as violative of the basic features of democracy and republicanism under the Indian Constitution nor are they violative of Articles 14, 170(2) and 332 of the Constitution. [...] The extent of reservation of seats is not violative of Article 332(3) of the Constitution." |website=main.sci.gov.in |date=10 February 1993|author= |accessdate= 20 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="latestlaws">{{cite web |url=https://www.latestlaws.com/latest-caselaw/1993/february/1993-latest-caselaw-76-sc/ |title=R.C. Poudyal & ANR Vs. Union of India & Ors (1993) INSC 77 (10 February 1993) |website=www.latestlaws.com |accessdate= 19 January 2021}}</ref>

In 2015, a petition was brought to the [[Sikkim High Court]] by Mr. Phigu Tshering Bhutia arguing for reassigning reservation for the Bhuti-Lepcha as well as for the Limboo-Tamang (LT), in the upcoming municipal elections, in Sikkim. The judge, [[Meenakshi Madan Rai]], dismissed the petition, while upholding the precedent where reservation in electoral constituencies aren't subject to the scrutiny of any court of law.<ref name="highCourt">{{cite web |url=https://hcs.gov.in/hcs/hg_orders/201100000602015_8.pdf |title=Judgement - WP(C) No.60 of 2015 - Shri Phigu Tshering Bhutia vs. State of Sikkim and Others - Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India |website=hcs.gov.in |date=30 July 2016 |author=Hon'ble Mrs. Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, Judge |accessdate= 23 January 2021 |quote=As there is a specific bar to interference by Courts in electoral matters, I would not be inclined to wade into forbidden waters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.casemine.com/judgement/in/5912db6f2713e13f953ac427 |title=Phigu Tshering Bhutia v. State Of Sikkim and Ors |website=www.casemine.com |accessdate= 23 January 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Indigenous peoples of Sikkim]]
* [[List of constituencies of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly]]
* [[Scheduled Tribes]]
* [[Reserved political positions in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Scheduled tribes of India}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}

[[Category:Buddhist communities of India]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Reservation in India]]
[[Category:Sikkim]]

Bhutia-Lepcha - Revision history

>MPGuy2824 at 10:39, 2 February 2021