NEW DELHI: In a significant move, the Supreme Court has decided that the trial for the Manipur violence cases, currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), will be relocated to neighboring Assam. The Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court has been tasked with nominating one or more judicial officers to handle these cases. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading the bench, has outlined a set of measures, stating that essential judicial processes, such as the presentation of the accused, remand procedures, and extensions of judicial custody, will occur online through a designated court in Gauhati.
To streamline the process, the custody of the accused, when granted, will take place in Manipur itself, eliminating the need for transit. Furthermore, individuals involved in CBI cases, including victims and witnesses, have been granted the option to physically appear before the designated court in Gauhati if they prefer not to participate online. To enable online hearings at the Gauhati court, the Manipur government has been instructed to ensure proper internet services.
Earlier, on August 21, the Supreme Court had established the Justice Gita Mittal committee to oversee the rehabilitation and relief efforts for the victims of the ethnic violence in Manipur. The CBI had taken over more than 10 cases related to these incidents, including one concerning the sexual assault of two women, the video of which had circulated widely on social media.
Recognizing that many residents of Manipur might have lost their identification documents due to the ethnic conflict, the committee appointed by the Supreme Court has called for various measures. These measures include directions to the state government and entities like the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to ensure the availability of Aadhaar cards for displaced individuals and to expand the compensation scheme for the victims.
The committee, through three submitted reports, has emphasized the necessity of reconstructing identity documents, improving the compensation process, and enlisting domain experts to facilitate its operations.
The ethnic violence in Manipur, which began on May 3 with a 'Tribal Solidarity March' against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status, has tragically claimed more than 160 lives and left several hundred others injured. The Supreme Court's intervention not only shifts the trial location but also addresses critical aspects of victim rehabilitation and compensation.
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