SC seeks CBI report on Manipur violence; asks Centre, state to act on panel's report

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to submit a status report within two weeks on its probe into 11 FIRs linked to the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, while also considering a revised mechanism for monitoring the trials connected to the cases.

- MPOST BUREAU

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi indicated that instead of the apex court, the responsibility of monitoring the proceedings could be entrusted to the Manipur High Court, which recently saw a new chief justice take charge, or the Gauhati High Court, or both acting in coordination. The court observed that the local high courts were better placed to oversee developments on the ground.

During the hearing, the bench also asked the Centre and the Manipur government to ensure implementation of recommendations made by the Justice Gita Mittal committee, which was constituted by the Supreme Court to oversee relief, rehabilitation and welfare measures for victims of the violence. The committee, headed by Justice Mittal, a former chief justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, and comprising former judges Shalini P Joshi and Asha Menon, has submitted several reports on rehabilitation measures.