“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.