Trial in Manipur violence case to begin in Assam?Supreme Court seeks CBI, NIA reports

Manipur government says it wants violence cases to be tried in state

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Manipur government, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Intelligence Agency to submit reports mentioning the status of investigation and charge sheet in cases of racial violence. The Supreme Court sought the reports to decide whether the trial can start in Assam or proceed in Manipur.

The Supreme Court also made it clear that it cannot issue directions to the state government and law enforcement agencies to uphold the laws and regulations of Manipur in the wake of fresh violence, armed protests, highway blockage and attack on the district collector’s premises in the past. order. Two months.

“These are matters in which this court cannot issue directions. We cannot issue directions to civil society organizations to maintain law and order… The state government is there to maintain law and order,” a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said and Justices JB Pardiwla and Manoj Misra.

The Supreme Court told Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the state government and investigating agencies, to take directions on the Justice Gita Mittal Commission’s recent report on violence in the state.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Mittal appointed by the Supreme Court sought the court’s order in the wake of the recent violence.

The Supreme Court asked the committee’s lawyers to hand over a copy of the report to the Attorney General to take instructions on the issue.

The Supreme Court referred to a communication from a special judge in Guwahati, Assam, to whom the violence case in Manipur has been transferred to oversee the investigation.

The trial judge sought clarification as to whether he can continue hearing the cases transferred from Manipur to Guwahati as per the Supreme Court’s August 2023 directive.

The Assam court also wants suggestions on how to deal with juvenile offenders.

“The Manipur government, the NIA and the CBI will submit an updated status report on the investigation. The status report shall note the chargesheets filed so far and the stages of investigation in other cases,” the bench said. NIA and CBI Central Bureau of Investigation.

“Let us have an idea. We will decide whether the trial should be held in Assam or Manipur,” the chief justice said and allowed the Manipur government to respond.

Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhatti, appearing for the Manipur government, expressed hope that the trial would be held in the state as the situation has improved significantly.

“We want to know whether these cases are ripe for trial,” the judge said, adding that a form on the status of the cases would be submitted.

Two weeks later, the Supreme Court ordered the listing of petitions related to the violence in Manipur.

In August last year, the Supreme Court had transferred to Assam several cases of violence in Manipur that were being investigated by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), including a case of sexual assault in which two women were seen on video being paraded naked. The Supreme Court has also asked the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to nominate one or more judicial officers to handle these cases.

The Supreme Court passed various directions on judicial proceedings, including virtual examination of victims and witnesses by courts, and said the directions are “issued at this stage keeping in mind the overall circumstances of Manipur and ensuring fairness in criminal proceedings.” needs”. Administration of Justice”.

“Both sides (Kuki and Meiteis) suffered… there were victims both in the valleys and in the mountains. People who suffered in the valleys had difficulty traveling to the mountains and vice versa. We don’t agree who suffered more, just the practical difficulties, ” the Chief Justice said, adding that the Supreme Court will pass an order that is fair to both parties.

Previously, the central government had ordered the CBI to investigate multiple cases of racial violence in Manipur.