Manipur Violence: SC To Pass Order To Facilitate Functioning Of Justice Gita Mittal Panel On Aug 25

A panel led by former judge Gita Mittal, to oversee the relief and rehabilitation of victims of violence in Manipur, submitted three reports to the Supreme Court on Monday.

The Supreme Court stated it will pass orders on Aug 25th, Friday to facilitate the functioning of the three-member panel.

Among these reports, there is one that emphasizes the necessity to enhance the compensation scheme for the strife-torn people of the state.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, directed the copy of the 3 reports will be given to all lawyers concerned and directed advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for one of the victims, to collate suggestions for the panel. The bench noted that the committee headed by Justice Mittal presented 3 reports on issues such as the loss of documents and the need to enhance the Manipur compensation scheme in alignment with the policy of the National Legal Services Authority.

The bench stated, “The reports submitted by the Justice Mittal-led committee shows essential documents need to be re-issued and the Manipur victim compensation scheme needs an upgrade and a nodal administration expert be appointed.”

On August 7, the apex court issued an order for the establishment of a committee comprising 3 former women high court judges. The committee’s responsibilities encompass overseeing relief, rehabilitation, and compensation for the victims, while also appointing former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar to supervise the investigation of criminal cases.

The court stated that the panel will be submitting reports to it directly.

Furthermore, the bench stated that the committee will be headed by former J&K High Court Chief Justice Mittal and include Justices (retd) Shalini P Joshi, a former judge of the Bombay High Court, and Asha Menon, an ex-judge of the Delhi High Court.

The bench is currently haering approximately 10 petitions pertaining to the escalating violence, some of which request a court-monitored investigation into cases, alongside measures for relief and rehabilitation.

More than 160 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3 when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for STs status.