TYCM urges transparent appointment of MSCST Chairperson

The Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM), General Headquarters, has called on the Government of Manipur to issue a public notification inviting applications from eligible members of the Scheduled Tribes for the appointment of a new Chairperson for the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (MSCST). The Council has stressed that the appointment must be based on experience and special knowledge of tribal rights and affairs, free from political influence.
The appeal comes in the wake of the completion of the three-year term of the outgoing Chairperson. TYCM expressed concern that the absence of a Chairperson has rendered the MSCST non-functional, adversely affecting its mandate to safeguard the rights and interests of tribal communities in the state.
Established under the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes Act, 2014, the MSCST is a quasi-judicial body empowered to address issues related to the Scheduled Tribes through legal provisions, policy recommendations, and suo-motu cognizance of complaints. It is not a political platform or a scheme-implementing agency, the TYCM clarified.
The Council emphasized that under Section 3(2)(a) of the MSCST Act, the Chairperson must be nominated by the state government from among the Scheduled Tribes, with demonstrated expertise in tribal affairs, particularly in legal, customary, and social aspects. TYCM questioned the government’s method of candidate identification without issuing a public invitation and warned that such a process could lead to biased appointments rooted in nepotism or favoritism.
The organization argued that the absence of an open application process undermines fairness, excludes deserving candidates, and compromises the integrity and independence of the Commission. It reiterated that appointments must adhere strictly to the statutory provisions and reflect transparency, accountability, and merit.
TYCM has strongly urged the government to immediately issue a notification inviting applications along with bio-data and activity records from eligible individuals of the tribal communities. The Council also warned against any political interference in the process, stressing that only a qualified and experienced individual should be appointed in accordance with the MSCST Act, 2014, to restore the Commission’s effectiveness and credibility.