Tag: Manipur violence

Manipur violence: Supreme Court summons State DGP; moots constitution of judicial committee

“In order to help the Court to determine the nature of investigation, we direct the DGP Manipur to be personally present on Monday, August 7 in Supreme Court to aid the Court,” the Court’s order stated.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur to be personally present in Court on August 7, when the Court will next hear the slew of petitions concerning the violence that has engulfed the north-eastern State.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra passed the order in a batch of petitions seeking independent probe into the violence in Manipur including a plea by two women from Kuki-Zomi community who were seen in a video being paraded naked and molested by a mob of men.

The Court today castigated the authorities and the State police today over their apparent failure to control the law and order situation that unfolded in Manipur.

“Based on the preliminary data, it prima facie appears that investigation has been tardy with considerable lapse between occurrence and the registration of the FIR, recording of witness statements and arrests have been few and far between. In order to help the Court to determine the nature of investigation, we direct the DGP Manipur to be personally present in Supreme Court to aid the Court,” the Court’s order stated.

The Court further mooted formation of a judicial committee comprising retired judges to examine the allegations and cases.

“We may think of eventually based on the data, we were thinking of constituting a committee of former judges of the High Court. It will be broad based committee. First we will decide on the remit such as relief, compensation, rehabilitation, to ensure the investigation is fair, recording of section 164 statements irrespective of where the victims are. Many have left Manipur. We are inclined to form a committee,” the Court remarked.

It then asked the Solicitor General to take instructions on who should probe the cases.

On this aspect, the Court also remarked that it had some suggestions in mind on how the investigation may be guided.

“There are 6,500 FIRs .. Of course, full cannot be transferred to the CBI. CBI will be rendered dysfunctional… We have some suggestions on how to lead the probe into all these FIRs. Entrusting CBI with the investigation of 6,500 FIRs is impossible and State police cannot look into this. We will hear you and then pass our order. We have given you our mind so that there are no surprises,” the Court told the Solicitor General.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/manipur-violence-supreme-court-summons-state-dgp-moots-judicial-committee

Can’t excuse atrocities on women during Manipur violence by citing other states, says Supreme Court

Justice Chandrachud responded to Bansuri Swaraj, who said, ‘I am seeking pan-India relief for women. They are all daughters of India’

CJI Chandrachud.
File Photo

The Supreme Court on Monday said the atrocities on women in the Manipur violence cannot be excused merely because similar incidents had been reported from other states like Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

“We will deal with it later. But here, we are dealing with something which is
unprecedented violence relating to communal and sectarian strife,” Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said.

The Chief Justice was responding to Bansuri Swaraj, advocate and daughter of the late BJP leader and Union minister Sushma Swaraj.

Bansuri’s clients wanted the top court to expand the scope of the present suo motu hearing on the Manipur violence to include similar crimes committed against women in Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

Bansuri said: “I am seeking pan-India relief for women. They are all daughters of India.”

Chief Justice Chandrachud responded: “Are you for a moment saying that do something for all the daughters of India or don’t do anything for anybody at all?”

Bansuri said: “No, my plea is ‘protect all the daughters of India’.”

The bench then asked her to give suggestions on the Manipur incident alone and mention the issues related to other states later.

The Chief Justice added: “You cannot excuse what is taking place in Manipur now on the ground that such crimes are happening to several other women as well in other parts of the country.”

The Supreme Court bench, which included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, made no mention of it but the Narendra Modi government has been accused by the Opposition of indulging in “whataboutery” after a video showing the savagery on two women who were paraded naked in Manipur emerged.

A day after the video emerged, ending his months-long silence on the Manipur violence, Prime Minister Modi had said: “…My heart is full of pain, full of anger. The incident that has come to the fore in Manipur is a shameful one for any civilised society…. Be it Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Manipur or any part of the country, maintaining law and order and respecting women should be put above any political debate.

On Monday, Bansuri was appearing in the court for two interveners — the SS Human Rights Foundation, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, through Sangita Chakraborty, and the Delhi-based Sangini Saheli through Priyal Bhardwaj.

The bench said: “Undoubtedly, there are crimes taking place against women all over the country. But then that is part of our social reality. However, in Manipur, we are dealing with something which is of an unprecedented magnitude, mainly crime and the unabated violence in a situation relating to communal and sectarian strife.”

Referring to the allegations associated with Bengal, Bansuri said: “These are all bone-chilling incidents. Your Lordships must protect all daughters of India and not limit the mechanism only to the state of Manipur,” the counsel said.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/cant-excuse-atrocities-on-women-during-manipur-violence-by-citing-other-states-says-supreme-court/cid/1955795

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