The High Court of Tripura has asked the Central and the State Governments on Monday to form a team of experts to assess the present condition of Karbong ethnic community and submit an affidavit on or before November 9 next. The matter shall be listed on November 12 next.
Taking cognizance of a report published in the ‘Tripura Observer’ titled ‘Karbong community at verge of extinction’ on October 12 last, newly appointed Chief Justice of High Court of Tripura Indrajit Mahanty formed a division bench to look into the matter. The division bench comprised of CJ Mahanty and Justice Subhashish Talapatra.
The State Government and the Union Government are two of the total seven respondents. Based on the report published, the Court told the Advocate General for the State as well as Assistant Solicitor General on behalf of the Union of India “to form a team of appropriate officials who shall visit the area, make an assessment of this area and needs of the community, Karbong community in particular and submit its report by way of an affidavit on or before November 9, 2021. We further direct that if any emergent steps need to be taken in that area, the State as well as Union of India are free to undertake all such steps that may become essentially necessary without awaiting further directions from this Court”, Advocate Harekrishna Bhowmik said.
The Court directed ONGC “to file an affidavit indicating what steps they have undertaken as part of their CSR activities in the Karbong community as indicated in the press article”.
Advocate Hare Krishna Bhowmik will act as an Amicus in the present matter.