GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court on Monday, March 17, ruled that trials in cases related to Manipur’s ethnic violence, which were earlier transferred to Assam for pre-trial proceedings, will be conducted in Guwahati.
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A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, clarified that the transferred cases would proceed before Guwahati’s courts, as the decision was made considering the “overall environment in Manipur” and the need for a fair trial process.
The apex court had earlier transferred 27 cases to Assam, including those involving molestation, rape, and murder, as well as cases related to looting of weapons. Among them was the widely reported case of two women being paraded naked. The Gauhati High Court Chief Justice was directed to assign judicial officers to handle these trials.
The Supreme Court also extended the tenure of a committee, led by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, until July 31. The panel, which includes former Bombay High Court judge Shalini P. Joshi and former Delhi High Court judge Asha Menon, was set up on August 7, 2023, to oversee relief and rehabilitation efforts in Manipur.
During the hearing, the bench agreed to provide litigants with reports submitted by the committee but urged caution due to the “sensitivities involved.” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Manipur government, supported this view, citing the potential for misuse of information.
The Supreme Court had previously directed the Manipur government to submit a sealed-cover report on properties affected by the violence. The report was to detail buildings that were burnt, looted, or illegally occupied, along with actions taken against trespassers. The court had also instructed the government to address the rehabilitation needs of displaced persons and clarify the release of funds for temporary and permanent housing.
Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, following a “tribal solidarity march” protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The two-year violence resulted in over 200 deaths, injuries to hundreds, and the displacement of thousands.
The next hearing was scheduled for July 21.