Supreme Court Proposes Exclusive Courts for Manipur Violence Cases
Supreme Court's Directive on Manipur Violence Cases
A file image showing a car torched amid ethnic violence in Manipur which erupted in 2023. (AT Photo)
New Delhi, Aug 10: On Monday, the Supreme Court urged the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to explore the establishment of dedicated courts for handling cases linked to the ethnic violence in Manipur from 2023, which are currently under investigation by the CBI and NIA.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, made this recommendation while reviewing the progress of investigations and trials related to the violence.
The court instructed authorities to gather information on cases where chargesheets have been filed, ensuring that victims, their families, and legal representatives can access necessary records.
“Considering the number of witnesses to be examined, we request the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to assess the possibility of having a dedicated CBI/NIA court for Manipur-related cases, while transferring other cases to different courts,” the bench stated.
Additionally, the court proposed the formation of two separate exclusive courts—one for CBI cases and another for NIA cases.
It also directed the Registrar General of the Gauhati High Court to present a status report regarding the feasibility of this proposal by the next hearing date.
The bench mentioned that it has established a mechanism to oversee the investigations and has reviewed the status reports submitted by both the CBI and NIA.
While acknowledging that Special Judges are currently handling CBI and NIA cases, the court expressed the need to determine if these courts are solely focused on cases stemming from the Manipur violence or if they are also managing other cases.
The court further instructed authorities to compile details, including case numbers and the status of proceedings, for cases with filed chargesheets, ensuring that victims and their families have access to relevant information.
CBI's Progress on Chargesheets
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that the CBI is managing 31 cases related to the Manipur violence.
Final reports have been submitted for 27 of these cases, which include 22 chargesheets and five closure reports, while four cases remain under investigation. Of the 22 chargesheets filed, cognizance has been taken in 20, with two pending.
Only one case is triable by a magistrate, while the others are classified as Sessions trials. The CBI cases have been moved to Gauhati, according to the law officer.
The NIA, assigned 30 cases, has filed chargesheets in 15, with investigations still ongoing in the remaining 15. Charges have been framed in seven of the 15 cases that have been charged.
According to the court's submissions, two of the NIA chargesheeted cases are currently before a court in Delhi, five are in Gauhati, and eight are in Manipur.
The court also acknowledged concerns raised by senior advocate Vrinda Grover regarding the accessibility of status reports and chargesheets for victims and their families. It directed that relevant case details be compiled and recorded to facilitate access to the proceedings.
Addressing Security Concerns
The bench noted incidents reported in a status update regarding the security situation in Manipur, including attacks on Assam Rifles personnel, damage to public infrastructure, road blockades, and protests related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The court emphasized that the sensitive law-and-order situation should not hinder ongoing investigations.
It instructed the Manipur government and central security agencies to provide necessary support and coordination to ensure that the CBI and NIA can conduct their investigations without disruption.
The court also highlighted the importance of ensuring security, particularly for students, amidst ongoing law-and-order challenges.
The ethnic violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, following a Tribal Solidarity March organized in the hill districts to protest against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the majority Meitei community.
Since the outbreak of violence, over 200 individuals have lost their lives, hundreds have been injured, and thousands have been displaced.