Supreme Court Seeks Fast-Track Trials, Proposes Special Courts for Manipur Violence Cases

The Supreme Court on Friday proposed the establishment of special courts to conduct day-to-day trials in criminal cases arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur. The court also directed investigative agencies to complete pending probes expeditiously and ensure that victims receive copies of charge sheets.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was hearing a batch of petitions related to the Manipur violence. The court noted that many victims and their families have not yet received copies of charge sheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the state Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The Bench permitted legal aid counsel representing victims to approach the offices of the Chief Justices of the Gauhati High Court and the Manipur High Court to obtain copies of the charge sheets. The probe agencies were directed to provide these copies within one week.

Proposing the creation of special courts for speedy trials, the Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the state government, SIT, and CBI, to compile information on cases where investigations are complete and charge sheets have been filed, as well as those where probes are still ongoing. The court stated this would help determine the number of special courts needed to handle trials efficiently.

The Supreme Court also directed the Manipur High Court to examine cases concerning 30 individuals who went missing after the ethnic violence. Additionally, the Bench asked the CBI, state SIT, and the court-appointed monitoring committee headed by former Maharashtra Director General of Police Dattatray Padsalgikar to submit fresh status reports on violence-related cases.

Ethnic violence first erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. More than 200 people have been killed, several hundred injured, and thousands displaced since the conflict began.