Nagaland: Adopted Non-Naga Children Are Not Entitled to ST Status Claim, DC Issues Order

KOHIMA: Amidst the unrest that took place in Manipur regarding the All-Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur’s (ATSUM) demand to oppose the Meitei community’s inclusion in Scheduled Tribes (ST) list, in another northeastern state Nagaland, The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kohima issues an order stating that Non-Naga children and children of non-Naga fathers are not eligible for a scheduled tribe/backward tribe/Indigenous Inhabitant tribe certificate.

According to the official notification, "In pursuance to the Government of Nagaland vide P & AR OM No. RCBT-5/87 (Pt-1I1) Dated Kohima, 11 June 2012 whereby states that 'children of non-Naga fathers, as well as non-Naga children adopted by Naga parents, etc, are not to be given scheduled tribe/Backward tribe/ Indigenous Inhabitant tribe certificates', all concerned Area Administrative Officers under Kohima district arc hereby directed to maintain strict compliance while verifying the authenticity of the applicants before forwarding to the issuing authority. Further, all concerned Area Administrative Officers are directed to issue similar instructions to all the Village Councils and GBs within their respective jurisdiction for strict adherence to the Government order.”

Back in the year 2006, the Supreme Court ruled that children born from a marriage between a tribal woman and a non-tribal man cannot claim scheduled tribe status and seek government employment in the reserved category.

A division bench comprising Justice H K Sema and Justice A R Lakshmanan ruled that the offspring of a tribal woman married to a non-tribal husband cannot claim scheduled tribe status because they were raised in a forward-thinking environment.

According to the order, "A person not belonging to the scheduled castes or scheduled tribes, claiming himself to be a member of such caste by procuring a bogus caste certificate, is a fraud on the Constitution of India."

The bench ruled such certifications should not be provided routinely without sufficient verification of the applicant's allegation, citing Articles 14 (Right to Equality) and 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution.

How to get ST Caste Certificate in Nagaland?

The Naga government has recently made it easier for Scheduled Tribes (ST) people to get formal verification of their caste status. As a Naga citizen, you can apply for a caste certificate online rather than visiting the block offices and SDO departments in various municipal areas.

Step 1: Click on the official website https://edistrict.nagaland.gov.in/

Step 2: Log in using user name and password.

Step 3: Click on ‘E-District Services’, then click on the ‘Scheduled Tribe Certificate’

Step 4: Enter necessary details in the application form.

Step 5: Make payment from various payment gateway

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