Manipur violence: Supreme Court seeks CBI's status report; moots transfer of monitoring to HCs

The Supreme Court on Friday suggested that the Gauhati and Manipur High Courts could be entrusted with the task of monitoring the proper conduct of trials in cases tied to violent clashes that took place in Manipur in 2023..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi sought a response on this proposal, after expressing reservations on whether a remote committee would be adequately equipped to monitor these matters.Instead, the Chief Justices of the Manipur High Court and the Guwahati High Court (Assam) could coordinate such monitoring efforts, the top court suggested."In view of the fact that a new Chief Justice has taken charge in Manipur High Court and .... in order to have an effective (monitoring) mechanism by coordination between Guwahati and Manipur High Courts ... Let there be instructions regarding the same,' the Court ordered.Notably, the Court today sought a status report from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the progress of Manipur violence-related cases, after concerns were raised about shortcomings on the central probe agency's part..It may be noted that following an order passed by the Supreme Court in August 2023, trials in Manipur violence cases are being conducted in Assam, with the parties to these cases being permitted to appear through video conference from Manipur. "There is a new Chief Justice in the High Court. This can go to the HC. How will a committee sitting here look into it? ... We can ask the Chief Justices of Manipur and Guwahati High Courts to coordinate and see how victims' statements need to be handled and how it can be recorded ... Please (get) instructions ... If the two Chief Justices can be entrusted with varied monitoring ... Whatever mechanism is needed (to help in this effort) can be evolved," the top court said, while hearing the matter today..The 2023 clashes and violence in Manipur stemmed from the opposition of certain tribes to the demand by the majority Meitei community to grant them Scheduled Tribes status.On April 19, 2023, the Manipur High Court had ordered the Manipur government to “consider inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, preferably within a period of four weeks” from the date of the order.This directive sparked violent ethnic clashes within the State between the Meitei and Kuki–Zo communities.After a video of two women being paraded naked amid the violence went viral, the Supreme Court eventually took suo motu cognisance of the issue. It has, since then, issued various directions to help curb such clashes and for the benefit of victims of such violence. In 2024, the Manipur High Court also recalled its controversial April 2023 directive..During the hearing today, advocate Vrinda Grover argued that in one case, the kin of a woman killed during the Manipur violence were not informed that a chargesheet had been filed. She added that there were instances where the accused and the CBI did not appear for trial hearings. "I have moved two IAs in the case where a woman was raped and killed during the sectarian violence. The young woman who died in January, 2026, ... Nobody informed (her family) that the chargesheet was filed. The accused not appearing. CBI not present," she said. .Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta replied that the CBI must answer to these concerns."Nobody can oppose what Ms. Grover is saying. The victim's rights cannot be affected. CBI must answer on Ms Grover's plea, whether here or in High Court," he said. He also assured the Court that the overall situation in Manipur is returning to a state of normalcy and peace. He agreed with the top court's observation that the High Court may be better suited to monitor the matter."Situation is peaceful there. People are moving. Local environment can be appreciated better by HC," he said. .CJI Kant observed that the CBI can file a status report. He also noted the need to ensure that free legal aid is given where victims cannot afford lawyers."Let CBI file a status report to the application by Ms Grover. Also, victims must be provided free legal aid in these situations. We will order that if legal aid counsels are not available on account of earlier charged atmosphere... Legal aid counsels from Guwahati Bar can be (engaged)," CJI Kant said..As the hearing drew to a close, Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves flagged concerns that reports filed by committees earlier tasked with monitoring the criminal cases in the matter and the rehabilitation of victims are not being shared with all stakeholders."We represent the tribal body forum, which consists of the Kukis. Two committees were appointed. One for criminal justice and one for rehabilitation. 27 reports have been filed in this Court and we don't have a single copy with us," he said..The CJI pointed out that this may be because the sensitive contents of the report are not such that it can be disclosed to everyone. "If a report is given in this court and if there is sensitivity in them, then before it reaches you...it will go somewhere else. Please don't say all this here. It's reported. Let us also go through, and then we will see," CJI Kant said. The case will be heard next on February 26..[Live Coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.