Manipur Ethnic Violence: SC Asks Manipur Government To Provide A List Of Properties, Burnt, Trespassed, Or Looted Amid Crisis

Today (December 09, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar was hearing the matter related to the Manipur Ethnic Violence. The two-judge bench asked the Manipur Government to provide a list of properties, in a sealed cover, that have been burnt, looted, or trespassed upon amid the ongoing ethnic crisis in the State. The bench said that the matter will now be heard after January 20, 2025. During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija appeared for Justice Gita Mittal Committee and informed the bench that the Committee prepared around 34 reports on various tasks undertaken since last year. She said, “Some commendable work has been done by the Committee completely pro bono. There are such laudable rehabilitation measures which have taken your lordships. It's been working 24x7, people have been put in hospitality areas, their skills have been built, they have been brought back to occupy their properties.” Hearing this, the bench directed that the Committee Reports be filed so that the State Government and the Home Minister can take the required remedial actions.

The bench added, “We also direct the State Govt. to file the following details- (1) building burnt and partially burnt; (2) buildings which are looted; (3) buildings trespassed and encroached upon, in all these give details name and address of the owner as well as the person, if any, in occupation of the property. The report shall also indicate the steps taken by the state govt to ensure that the persons who have trespassed are proceeded against as per law. The said list be given in a sealed cover.” Moreover, the top court asked the State Government to respond to the issue of fund release for temporary and permanent housing as per the Mittal Committee, “You have to take a decision on how you want to deal with it or in terms of criminal action as well as to ask them to pay mesne profits for the use of the occupation (of properties).” 

Further, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the State, informed the SC, “...first priority was the law-and-order situation, the second was whatever the arms are recovered." He expressed his odds at sharing the data in open Court, “We have the data, but we will not share it(openly), very frequently it is highlighted in the media, I have seen many interviews, of the track interviews, which I would request my learned friend to avoid.” After hearing the contentions, the SC bench asked the Manipur Government to provide a sealed cover including information on properties that have been burnt, looted, or trespassed upon amid the ongoing ethnic crisis in the State.