Manipur Violence: Supreme Court seeks for a detailed status report from Manipur Government regarding ethnic clashes and lists the matter for hearing on July 10.

Today, July 03, 2023, the Supreme Court of India heard the matter related to the Manipur violence. The matter was listed today before the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court including Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Manoj Misra, and Justice PS Narasimha. The bench considered two petitions where one was filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi and the other one by Dinganglung Gangmei (Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly) seeking protection of the Kuki tribe by Indian Army and challenging Manipur High Court’s order of inclusion of Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe List respectively. It was determined that the Manipur riots were triggered due to the issue related to ST status for Meitei. The Supreme Court sought an updated and detailed status report from the Manipur Government explaining the current situation regarding the ongoing ethnic clashes. To this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that “the situation is improving though slowly” and urged the bench to give some time for filing a detailed status report. Further, the bench ordered to list the matter for hearing on July 10, 2023. 

During the proceedings, Senior Advocate, appearing for the Manipur Tribal Forum, Dr. Colin Gonsalves submitted that the situation has become worst in Manipur. In response to this, Solicitor General said that the curfew has been reduced to 5 hours a day indicating that the situation is improving slowly. SG also stated that “My learned friend may not give this a communal angle- like Christians or something. Real human beings are being dealt with…” Further arguing this, Gonsalves mentioned that several militant group leaders are openly giving calls to annihilate the Kukis. He also said that “As long as these armed groups are not disbanded and allowed to go and kill, there will be an escalation of violence. Last night, 3 tribals killed and 1 beheaded, first beheading of tribals. These are the Meities, they are the dominant group. I have given a list of all the hundreds of Kukis who have been killed village-wise. The Kukis are not attacking. The Kukis are in the villages defending. The Meities are defending. The armed groups are crossing the lines. Once they cross the line, the women gather in large numbers and stop the army. The army has released two press statements that they are not allowed to do their duty and protect the people.”

Following this, a Counsel appearing for the International Meities Organization said that “The suspicion is that the militants have come out of the shelter and are fighting, otherwise how will you explain the assault weapons. There should be a headcount of the militants. Union of India should look into this aspect.” Hearing this, the CJI orally said, “Let’s have an updated status report from SG. We are not adjourning it by a long time…So we want to know what steps have been taken on the ground…Give us a detailed status report.” Justices Manoj Misra and PS Narasimha said, “The Solicitor General has submitted that the state of Manipur will file an updated status report about measures which have been taken and indicating the present position. List on Monday.” CJI further added, “Give us a detailed affidavit under every head, just tell us what steps have been taken…rehabilitation camps recovery of arms, law, and order.”