Bhuta-Lepcha is an ethnic grouping consisting of people of the Bhutia and Lepcha communities in Sikkim state of India. Both these groups are listed as Scheduled Tribes by the Government of India.[1]
After the implementation of the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission, in 2002, 12 (out of 32) seats have been reserved for this group in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4]
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 constituency in Sikkim, by Ram Chandra Poudyal[3] of the Rising Sun Party. The Supreme Court dismissed the petition, judging that the reservations (or their quantity) aren't violating articles 14, 170(2) or 332 of the Constitution.[5][6]
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.[7][8]
See also
- Indigenous peoples of Sikkim
- List of constituencies of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly
- Scheduled Tribes
- Reserved political positions in India
References
- ↑ State/Union Territory-wise list of Scheduled Tribes in India. Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GOI. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
- ↑ Sikkim - Final Publication - Election Commission of India.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sikkim's Sangha Assembly seat is a perfect example of the state's unique political process to protect minority rights - Politics News(6 April 2019).
- ↑ Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee - About us. www.siblac.org.
- ↑ R.C. Poudyal and ANR. Vs. Union of India and ORS.. main.sci.gov.in(10 February 1993).
- ↑ R.C. Poudyal & ANR Vs. Union of India & Ors (1993) INSC 77 (10 February 1993). www.latestlaws.com.
- ↑ 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. hcs.gov.in(30 July 2016).
- ↑ Phigu Tshering Bhutia v. State Of Sikkim and Ors. www.casemine.com.
Template:Scheduled tribes of India Template:Hill tribes of Northeast India