Manipur Hearings: Supreme Court Sets Up Judicial Panel To Oversee Relief Work, Says Senior Officers To Supervise SITs

The Supreme Court on Monday announced the setting up of a three-judge panel to oversee relief and rehabilitation work in Manipur. 

The Apex Court also that said senior police officers will supervise the police investigation in cases that have not been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, also outlined the mechanism for such supervision. 

Around 2 pm, the SC bench comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra resumed hearing petitions related to the ethnic violence in Manipur. The Manipur government submitted the details of FIRs filed so far and the state police chief also appeared in the court to brief on the action taken so far. 

Manipur has been in the grips of ethnic violence since May 3 when violence erupted between the state's Meitei and tribal communities. Since then, over 150 people have been killed and around 60,000 have been displaced. Houses, places of worship, and political establishments along with public buildings like police stations have also come under repeated attacks. 

Last month, a video surfaced of two tribal women being paraded naked and groped by a mob that caused nationwide outrage. The incident took place on May 4, a day after ethnic violence began in Manipur. That incident, which has since been transferred to CBI, is also being discussed in the Supreme Court. In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court had asked for the break-up of the approximately 6,000 FIRs registered in Manipur. The SC came down heavily on the state government and police and called the situation in Manipur a "complete breakdown of law and order and constitutional machinery". 

Supreme Court sets up judicial panel to oversee relief 

The Supreme Court on Monday announced it would set up a committee of three former high court judges to oversee relief and rehabilitation work in Manipur. 

The SC said former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal will head the committee which will also comprise former judges Shalini Joshi and Asha Menon, reported Live Law. 

"We will constitute at one level a committee of 3 former HC judges. This committee will be looking at things apart from investigation - including relief, remedial measures etc," said Chandrachud, as per Live Law. 

The SC's purpose of appointing the judicial panel is to "restore a sense of confidence and faith in the rule of law in the state", reported PTI. 

Senior officers to supervise investigation: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court said that senior officers will supervise police investigation in cases that have not been transferred to the CBI. 

The SC also said it would appoint former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Dattatray Padsalgikar as an "additional oversight" who would report to the bench. Padsalgikar has perviously served as the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA). 

The SC also said there will be 42 Special Investigation Teams (SITs) for cases not transferred to CBI.

"There will be 42 SITs looking at cases which have not been transferred to CBI...These SITs should be supervised by DIG-ranked officers from outside Manipur. Each officer will monitor six SITs to see that investigation is going correctly," said Chandrachud, as per Live Law.

Manipur DGP appears in Supreme Court

Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Singh appeared in the Supreme Court to inform the court of action taken so far.

"Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh appeared before the bench to answer queries on the ethnic violence and the steps taken by the administration so far to check it, besides the segregation of cases for the purpose of effective investigation," reported PTI.

The Supreme Court began its hearing on Manipur violence on July 20 when it took cognisance of the viral video of the May 4 incident. It had directed the Centre and state government to inform it of the action taken against the perpetrators. The court had warned that if no action was taken soon, then it would step in.

In the previous hearing on July 31, Chandrachud termed the Manipur violence "unprecedented" and said that it cannot be compared to incidents of violence in West Bengal or Rajasthan. He said it could also not be compared to the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case of 2012.

"So there is no gainsaying in the fact that there are crimes which are taking place against women in West Bengal as well. The only answer is this: you cannot excuse what is taking place in one part of the country like Manipur on the ground that similar crimes are happening in other parts too. Question is how do we deal with Manipur?" said Chandrachud further, as per Live Law.