Today, 18th April, The Gauhati High Court rejected the appeal of Assam MP Naba Sarania challenging the revocation of his Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Sarania, who represents the Kokrajhar (ST) constituency, contested the decision by a State Level Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) that invalidated his ST status. The court’s decision effectively prevents Sarania from contesting in constituencies reserved for ST or other categories in future elections.
Gauhati: On Thursday, the Gauhati High Court rejected a writ petition filed by Naba Sarania, a two-time MP, who challenging the cancellation of his Scheduled Tribe status by a State Level Scrutiny Committee.
The order delivered by Justice S K Medhi, as reported by Assam’s advocate general Devajit Saikia.
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Saikia stated,
“The court dismissed his writ petition without granting any relief, thereby barring him from contesting in constituencies reserved for ST or other categories.”
Since 2014, Sarania served as an independent Member of Parliament for the Kokrajhar (ST) constituency in the Lower House and recently declared his intention to run for a third consecutive term from that seat in the upcoming May 7 elections.
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He contested a ‘speaking order’ issued by the SLSC on January 12, 2024, which determined that he did not belong to the ST (P) community. Following this, the state’s Department of Tribal Affairs cancelled Sarania’s caste certificate, originally issued on October 17, 2011, through an order on January 20.
Sarania argued that he is a member of the Boro Kachari community, which granted ST (P) status, and he represents a Lok Sabha constituency reserved for this community.