Tripura High Court Asks Govt To Form Expert Committee To Assess Condition Of Endangered Karbong Community

The Tripura High Court on Monday took suo motu cognizance of a news report highlighting the plight of Karbong community, said to be on the verge of extinction on account of poor socio-economic conditions.

A Bench comprising newly appointed Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Subhashish Talapatra directed the Central and State governments to conduct a detailed study on the community and submit the findings by way of an affidavit by November 9.

"Learned Advocate General for the State as well as learned Assistant Solicitor General on behalf of Union of India are requested 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 9th November 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", the Court ordered. 

It further directed the State owned oil and gas exploration company- ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) to file an affidavit indicating the steps undertaken as part of their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities in the Karbong community. The ONGC had adopted Karbongpara in Januray 2018 to provide basic amenities including educational support, heathcare through its CSR.

The development comes following a report titled 'Karbong community at verge of extinction' published by the "Tripura Observer" on October 12, 2021.

The bench has appointed advocate Harekrishna Bhowmik as amicus curiae in the matter.

The community is a sub-tribe of the Halam community of Tripura residing in a small hamlet of Atharamura hill range. Reportedly, only 122 people of the community belonging to 31 families are now surviving.

The matter is slated to be heard next on November 12. 

Case Title: Court On Its Own Motion v. State of Tripura and Ors 

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