Today, On 21st February, The Supreme Court, hearing the Are-Katika community’s plea for nationwide Scheduled Caste (SC) status, referenced the Manipur crisis. It pointed to the Manipur High Court’s March 2023 order directing the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribes list, which triggered widespread riots. The Court’s remark highlighted the sensitivity of caste-based classifications. The matter remains under judicial scrutiny.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a petition from the Telangana State Are-Katika (Khatik) Sangh, which sought directions to include the Are-Katika (Khatik) community in the list of Scheduled Castes (SCs) nationwide.
Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih stated that the Court cannot address this demand, referencing the ongoing crisis in Manipur to illustrate the potential consequences of judicial intervention in such matters.
As a result, the petition was withdrawn.
The Court remarked,
“This is well settled. Even the High Court cannot look into this. Only Parliament can do this. You know what happened in Manipur!”
The judges were referring to a March 2023 ruling by the Manipur High Court that directed the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list, which led to widespread riots and violence. This directive was later rescinded by the High Court during a review.
The petition argued that Are-Katikas, who are Hindus working as butchers, face unequal treatment in India, as they are classified as SCs in some states and as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in others.
It noted,
“The Are-Katika/Khatik community is positioned at a lower status in the local caste hierarchy due to their occupation as non-vegetarians engaged in unclean and undignified work. The terms ‘Kasai’, ‘Kasab’, ‘Katikavadu’, and ‘Katika’ are often used derogatorily.”
The plea also pointed out that the community has established their own temples, maintained by their members, along with community priests and separate burial grounds in each district or city.
Also Read: Manipur violence committee report
Additionally, it highlighted that women from the community lose their SC status when married outside their state, and the same applies when individuals change their residence.
The Are Katika, also called Are-Suryavanshi, are a community mainly found in South Indian states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Traditionally, they worked as meat traders, hunters, and soldiers.
They follow Hinduism and are considered Kshatriyas, known for serving as warriors under the Maratha rulers. One important fact about them is that they do not slaughter animals for Halal meat, which is a practice followed by Muslim Qureshis.