Fresh hope for Hattis as HP High Court sets final hearing on ST status

Arenewed wave of hope has swept through the Hatti community living in the Trans Giri region of Sirmaur district, following a significant development in their long-pending struggle for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. A division bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court has set a final hearing date for July 7, bringing clarity to a legal battle that has lingered for over a year.

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The bench, comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan-recently elevated as Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court - and Justice Sushil Kukreja, made it unequivocally clear that "no adjournment whatsoever shall be granted to either party". This firm stance has rekindled optimism among the 1.6 lakh residents of the region who have long awaited constitutional recognition.

The Hatti community's journey has been marked by setbacks and legal hurdles. On January 4, 2024, the High Court had stayed a state government notification dated January 1, 2024, which sought to implement the Centre's decision from August 4, 2023, to grant ST status to the Hattis. This stay order came as a severe blow, halting the implementation of what many saw as long-overdue justice.

The delay has been exacerbated by administrative inertia. Legal experts have criticised both the Central and state governments for their sluggish response. Despite being served notices on November 30, 2023, the governments took 49 days to respond-submitting incomplete and legally weak documentation that failed to lift the interim stay.

At the heart of the case lies the broader debate over social equity and reservation policies. Opposing groups, notably the Giripar Anusuchit Jaati Surakshan Samiti, argue that granting ST status to the Hattis may disrupt existing caste-based reservations and adversely affect Scheduled Castes in the region.

Nevertheless, the Hatti community stands hopeful. As the final hearing nears, their decades-long demand for recognition, equality, and dignity may soon find a resolution in the courtroom-potentially altering the course of social justice in Himachal Pradesh.

— The writer is a senior political analyst