Goa, Nov. 9 -- The Manipur High Court has directed the Central Government to keep the Census 2027 exercise in Manipur on hold until April 30, 2027. A division bench comprising Justices M. Sundar and A. Guneshwar Sharma instructed the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to evaluate seven formal representations concerning the census and issue a reasoned order by April 30 next year. The court also specified that the census will remain suspended for an additional four weeks following the decision, allowing aggrieved parties time to challenge the outcome if necessary.

The ruling follows public interest litigation filed by the Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA), and a petiti...