SC grants extension of 6 months to Justice Gita Mittal's Committee to address the humanitarian concerns stemming from the ethnic violence in Manipur
In a recent development concerning ethnic violence in Manipur, the Supreme Court granted an extension of 6 months to the committee chaired by Justice Gita Mittal to address the humanitarian concerns stemming from the ethnic violence in Manipur. The bench constituting Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra ordered, “The committee chaired by Justice Gita Mittal stands extended for 6 months.” The SC constituted the committee in August 2023 to address the humanitarian concerns relating to the Manipur violence. The committee consists of:
- Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court,
- Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, former judge of the Bombay High Court, and
- Justice Asha Menon, former judge of the Delhi High Court.
The major tasks assigned to them include:
- “Enquire into the nature of violence against women that occurred in the State of Manipur from 4 May 2023,
- Submit a report to the Court on the steps required to meet the needs of the survivors including measures for dealing with rape trauma, providing social, economic, and psychological support, relief, and rehabilitation in a time-bound manner,
- Ensure free and comprehensive medical and psychological care to survivors,
- Ensure conditions of dignity in relief camps set up for displaced persons including suggestions for additional camps, and
- look into the disbursements of necessary compensations to victims of sexual assault, violence, and next of kin.”
Previously, the appointed amicus curiae representing the committee, Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija, mentioned before the bench headed by the CJI that the committee’s term ended on July 15, submitting that there is a need for an extension for the committee to continue the work. The top court, today, granted an extension of 6 months to the committee to complete the important work.
