New Delhi: Director of the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) and member of the Core Group of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Suhas Chakma in a notice to senior officials and Deputy Commissioners of Arunachal Pradesh on July 7th stated that Chakmas and Hajongs are being left with no option but being forced to initiate contempt proceedings for violations of the 1996 judgment of the Supreme Court on the Chakma Hajong issue. The Home Department has called for a meeting on Tuesday (8 July 2025) on illegal immigrants and electoral safeguards for indigenous peoples of Arunachal Pradesh and included “Land Records and Encroachment by Chakma Hajong Settlers” as an agenda item pursuant to a memorandum submitted by All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU).

The Supreme Court in its judgment dated 9 January 1996 in the case of NHRC Vs State of Arunachal Pradesh had directed the State of Arunachal Pradesh, to protect the life and personal liberty of each and every Chakma residing within the State from organised groups and further that “the quit notices and ultimatums issued by the AAPSU and any other group which tantamount to threats to the life and liberty of each and every Chakma should be dealt with in accordance with law”.

“The State of Arunachal Pradesh instead of complying with this direction, has made AAPSU a part of the government decision making by inviting it to the official meeting to be held on 8th July 2025. A non-State actor being invited in the official meeting for decision making is unheard of and non-est in law. It amounts to making a non-state actor to act as the complainant, judge, jury and executioner. This is in absolute contravention of basic tenets of the rule of law including Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India and most importantly, in contempt of the Supreme Court judgment dated 9 January 1996. No court shall take such indiscretion lightly.” – stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of the RRAG and a member of the Core Group of the NHRC.

Further, the Supreme Court had specifically ruled that “while the application of any individual Chakma is pending consideration, State of Arunachal Pradesh shall not evict or remove the concerned person from his occupation on the ground that he is not a citizen of India until the competent authority has taken a decision in that behalf”.

On this Mr Chakma stated, “the State of Arunachal Pradesh because of its malafide intention has not processed a single citizenship application as on date and W.P.(C)510/2007 is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court regarding these citizenship applications. The State of Arunachal Pradesh instead of taking decisions on the pending citizenship applications is removing the Chakmas and Hajongs people from their occupations. There is specific bar from taking any action till consideration of the citizenship applications of the Chakmas and Hajongs and the State of Arunachal Pradesh is violating this direction of the Supreme Court”.

“It poorly reflects on the country itself if non-State actors without legal sanctity are allowed to take decisions on behalf of the State, that too by holding the Supreme Court in contempt. It is the State government officials who are responsible for contempt in case of blatant violations by them.”- also stated Mr Chakma.