Centre files review petition on SC's Sikkimese Nepalis reference

The Centre on Monday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its observations in a January verdict, which referred to Sikkimese Nepalis as immigrants. The home ministry has submitted before SC its position about the sanctity of Article 371F of the Constitution that safeguards the Sikkimese identity, MHA said in a series of tweets.

The MHA's move came amid protests in Sikkim over the SC reference. Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang has called on law minister Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi on the SC observations. This led to several protests in Sikkim. Rijiju had assured the chief minister that the Centre would file a review petition. On Sunday, a delegation from Sikkim, led by the state BJP president DR Thapa, also met home minister Amit Shah, who assured them that the Centre would file a review plea.

Tamang submitted a memorandum which quoted provisions under Article 371F where rights of the Sikkimese have been enumerated. Nepalis form the majority community of Sikkim, apart from Lepchas and Bhutias. The state government has called an emergency House session on February 9.