Manipur violence case hearing updates | CJI contemplates committee comprising former HC judges; hearing to resume on August 7

The Supreme Court on August 1 said the Manipur Government’s status report on 6,523 FIRs registered point to a “complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery” in the State from the beginning of May till the end of July during the ethnic violence.

The hearing has ended. The Court will resume hearing the matter next on August 7 at 2pm.

CJI Chandrachud contemplates the constitution of a committee comprising former High Court judges to investigate the cases. He asks SG Mehta to come up with instructions on who will probe the matter.

The CJI observes that there are 6,500 FIRs so far and it is not possible for the CBI alone to investigate.

The Supreme Court orders the State to furnish details about the FIRs filed so far by stipulating the following information – the date of occurrence, the date of registration of the zero FIR, the date of registration of the regular FIRs, the date on which the witness statements have been recorded, the date on which Section 164 statements have been recorded and the date on which arrests have been made.

The court also outlines that it must be stated if the concerned accused persons have been named in the FIRs.

CJI Chandrachud says that based on the data submitted by the State, it prima facie appears that the ‘investigation has been tardy’ with considerable lapse between occurrence and the registration of the FIRs.

The CJI orders DGP Manipur Police to be personally present in court on Friday at 2pm.

Regarding the Thoubal sexual violence incident, CJI Chandrachud observes that the record reflects that the survivors were handed over to the mob by the police. Questioning the efficiency of investigation, he asks SG Mehta if the police personnel have been interrogated and if any arrests have been made.

‘Has the DGP cared to find out if the police were booked? What has he done? What is his duty?’, the CJI says.

CJI Chandrachud says that it is evident that there has been a breakdown of law and order and that the state police is incapable of investigation. ‘In 6000 FIRs, you have made 7 arrests’, he asks SG Mehta.

‘It is clear that for the two months, the state police was not in charge. They may have made performative arrests but they were not in charge. Either they were incapable of doing it or uninterested’, the CJI says.

Subsequent to SG Mehta apprising the Bench about the status of the investigation, CJI Chandrachud observes that the investigation has been lethargic and that statements have been recorded after a considerable lapse of time.

He adds that this gives the impression that from the beginning of May till the end of July there was no law and that there was a breakdown of constitutional machinery.

SG Mehta in response says that ‘considering the situation on the ground’ it may have happened.

Regarding the Thoubal sexual violence incident in Manipur which took place on May 4, CJI Chandrachud says that it is clear that there has been a long delay in the registration of FIRs.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submits that over 6,000 regular FIRs have been filed from May 3 to July 30. He apprises the Bench that police authorities have been instructed to be sensitive to sexual violence incidents reported by women and children and to take action promptly.

President’s rule should be urgently imposed in Manipur and a Supreme Court monitored SIT be set up to probe clashes in the State, the Delhi Commission for Women has said in a report listing interim recommendations sent to President Droupadi Murmu.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal was in Manipur last week to interact with survivors of the ethnic violence that has wracked the State since May. “Given the extent of violence and the polarisation between the two communities, President’s rule, as per Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, should be urgently imposed in the State. The administration needs to be run by neutral persons whom both communities can trust,” the report said.

As part of the interim recommendations, the DCW has said Chief Minister N. Biren Singh should resign from office and that a Supreme Court Monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up to probe ethnic clashes and the government’s response.

PTI

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has resumed hearing a batch of petitions seeking an independent court-monitored probe into the violence in the State of Manipur.

The top court on July 20 had taken suo moto cognisance of the Thoubal sexual violence incident in Manipur after describing as ‘horrendous’ the video of two women being paraded naked. The two women survivors had earlier submitted before the court that they are opposed to the Centre’s proposal to hand over the investigation to the CBI and transfer the trial to Assam.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has sought time from President Droupadi Murmu on behalf of the Opposition parties to discuss the Manipur issue, sources said. They added that he has not yet got time from the President.

The Opposition parties have been demanding a comprehensive discussion on violence in Manipur in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha along with a statement from the Prime Minister in Parliament.

They have now sought the President’s intervention in the matter, claiming that the violence in the BJP-ruled northeastern State is continuing and many people have lost their lives.

PTI

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh, requesting the latter government’s concurrence for Tamil Nadu’s proposed humanitarian aid for those living in relief camps in the violence-hit northeastern State.

Mr. Stalin told the Manipur Chief Minister in a letter dated July 31 that he has been informed that more than 50,000 people were staying in relief camps due to the “prevailing situation” in the northeastern State, apparently referring to the violence there.

“...there is an increasing need for some essential items for the affected people. At this crucial time, the Government of Tamil Nadu is willing to extend support to your State by providing necessary relief materials like tarpaulin sheets, bed-sheets, mosquito nets, essential medicines, sanitary napkins, and milk powder worth around ₹10 crore,” Mr. Stalin said.

PTI

Communist Party of India (CPI) national general secretary Atul Kumar Anjaan has alleged that the Manipur ethnic strife was part of a well-planned strategy of the BJP. The saffron party, while dismissing the allegation, said the Left must look in its own backyard of Kerala, where political murders are taking place, before preaching democracy to others.

Mr. Anjaan, who was in Ranchi to attend the State executive meeting of the party, told reporters, “While Manipur was burning, BJP leaders were busy seeking votes in Karnataka.” He said lakhs have been displaced in Manipur which has a population of only 31 lakh.

PTI