Ajit Karn
Concerned about the colossal loss of lives and property, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Centre and the Manipur government to intensify relief and rehabilitation efforts for those affected by ethnic violence in the north-eastern state, in addition to protecting places of worship, many of which were attacked during the chaos.
The Centre informed a bench presided over by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that there have been no untoward incidents reported in Manipur over the past two days and that the situation there is progressively returning to normal.
In violent clashes over the latter’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, more than 50 people have been slain. More than 23,000 individuals have been rescued and housed in military garrisons and relief centers.
The apex court referred to the aftermath of the violence as “humanitarian issues” and emphasized that proper arrangements must be made in the relief centers and that the people sheltered there must be provided with food, rations, and medical facilities.
The bench, which also included Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, stated, “We are gravely concerned about the loss of life and property, and the government is taking steps… ”
The bench stated that, having expressed its concerns, it must now leave it to the government to take action because the court cannot order that so much apparatus be brought to this area.
The highest court stated that it has no reason to doubt the government’s response to the crisis.
The bench stated that the authorities should ensure that all essential amenities are provided in relief camps, work towards the rehabilitation of those who have been displaced, and safeguard places of worship.
Mehta informed the bench that 52 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and 105 columns of the Army/Assam Rifles have been deployed in Manipur, and that flag marches have been held in the troubled areas.
He stated that a senior former police officer has been appointed as the state’s security advisor and that another senior officer was repatriated from central deputation yesterday to serve as the government’s chief secretary.
Mehta stated that reconciliation meetings have been held and that a constant vigilance is being kept.
In addition to a large deployment of security forces, he stated that helicopters and drones are being used to monitor the situation. For displaced people, relief centers have been established where food and medical aid are provided.
The chief law officer also stated that the security forces are facilitating the movement of stranded individuals.
The bench noted Mehta’s assertions that, as a result of the measures taken by the authorities, there have been no reports of violence in the state over the past two days. The situation is progressively returning to normal, and the curfew has been lifted for a few hours over the past two days, the report stated.
“Allow things to calm down. In the larger interest, I would ask that this be posted after a week or ten days, and we’ll see what transpires,” he told the court.
The CJI asked, “How many relief camps do you currently have and approximately how many people are in the relief camps?” They also inquired, “We would like to know what kind of arrangements have been made in the relief camps, as these are humanitarian issues pertaining to food, medication, and security.” Who administers these relief camps? Are they the CAPF or Army relief camps?” The bench stated that displaced individuals are an additional factor.
It inquired whether the government is attempting to gradually return these individuals to their homes.
The apex court was hearing a number of petitions regarding the situation in Manipur, including one by a ruling BJP MLA challenging the high court order on the issue of Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community and a PIL by a tribal organization seeking a SIT investigation into the violence that rocked the north-eastern state last week.
Last Wednesday, confrontations between Meiteis and tribals broke out in the Churachandpur district.
The tribals oppose reservation for the majority Meiteis as a result of an order issued by the Manipur High Court on March 27 requiring the state government to submit a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks regarding the community’s demand for ST status.
During the hearing, senior counsel Colin Gonsalves, who was representing one of the petitioners, brought up the issue of state-wide evacuation.
“Let us not utter anything that may have unintended or intended negative consequences. We must be extremely cautious, said the attorney general.
When one of the attorneys stated that he represents the original petitioners (who sought quotas for the Meitei community) before the Manipur High Court, the bench informed him that he should have presented the high court with two constitution bench decisions demonstrating that it lacks the authority to recommend reservation.
You have never informed the Supreme Court that it lacks this authority. This is a list of presidential powers, the court stated.
Since Mehta has asserted that action is being taken by the state before a competent forum in regards to Meitei reservation, the supreme court will not go into further detail.
“We must give that forum an opportunity to correct itself,” it stated, adding that the supreme court has made its concerns plain to the attorney general.
The bench stated that its immediate objective is “protection, restitution, and stabilization” and that it is only concerned with these humanitarian issues.
The bench told the petitioners, “All we are saying is that you may raise your concerns in an appropriate manner so that these proceedings before the Supreme Court do not become another reason for dissolution.” In its order, the bench stated, “The solicitor general has stated that the state of Manipur is taking appropriate action in response to the March 27, 2023 order of a single judge of the high court by petitioning the appropriate forum in this regard.” While taking note of Mehta’s arguments, the bench rescheduled the hearings for May 17 and ordered the Centre and the state to submit updated status reports.
In his appeal to the apex court, Dinganglung Gangmei, BJP MLA and chairman of the Hills Area Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, argued that the “proceedings before the high court were vitiated because the HAC was not made a party” and that the HC order caused tension and violence between the two communities.
Meiteis constitute approximately 53% of Manipur’s population and reside primarily in the Imphal valley. Nagas and Kukis make up roughly 40 percent of the population and reside primarily in the upland districts.
The Manipur Tribal Forum, through advocate Satya Mitra, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) with the apex court under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution, citing the severe situation resulting from attacks on the tribal community in Manipur by a “dominant group.”
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The chairman of the Hill Area Committee has filed a second appeal against the High Court’s May 3 order issuing notices in response to a contempt petition lodged by members of the Meitei community.
