Supreme Court proposes special courts for Manipur 2023 violence cases, directs probe expediting

When confronted with problems that are beyond any solution, it is a long-enduring national pastime to create another bureaucracy and present it as a solution. There is an abiding hope that such bureaucracies will help us see some light at the end of the tunnel. It is also well known and nationally accepted that such bureaucracies sit atop a pile of other clogged bureaucracies and, with the passage of time, become part of the architecture of inefficiency. Into this category falls the Supreme Court proposal to set up special courts to deal with Manipur violence cases. The history of special courts and fast-track courts, set up over the years, is the same as that of any other bureaucracy.The investigation into the hundreds of cases of violence is also a story of judicial and police lethargy, sitting atop many offices. The CBI, the SIT (special investigation team) and the state police are the three agencies probing ethnic violence in Manipur, involving the Meiteis and the Kukis and also some Naga groups, which shocked the nation three years ago. The SIT is investigating 3020 cases across 8 districts, while the CBI is probing 31 rape and murder cases. As part of the sealed-cover jurisprudence, two reports have been submitted by these agencies. The SIT has completed investigations in only 301 cases, out of which trials have commenced in 11. The CBI investigations are no better, having completed 21 cases, while investigation is continuing in 11. Six closure reports have also been filed. Above all this is the complaint that many burnt churches have not been reconstructed. Atop this judicial and investigative mess sits a committee headed by retired high court judge Gita Mittal. The term of this committee has now been extended till the end of this year.Clearly, there is no end in sight for any of these cases. It must be admitted that investigation into specific instances, which happened as part of a larger conflict, is difficult and mostly impossible. To that extent, we cannot blame any of the agencies for the lethargic progress. Nor can it be envisaged that any of the trials will be concluded any time soon. Special courts can, at best, help speed up the snail’s pace to a tortoise’s pace. All these cases can be dragged through courts endlessly in special courts or ordinary courts.Manipur finds itself between the devil and the deep sea. Far away from the national durbar, it hardly catches the attention of the government and the ruling BJP, which, apart from changing the chief minister, has hardly done anything or offered a solution. There is neither political will nor strategic plan for healing the wounds of Manipur, which is left to deal with its festering wounds.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said it is considering setting up dedicated trial courts to conduct day-to-day hearings in criminal cases arising out of the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, while directing investigating agencies to expedite pending probes. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohan directed the Manipur government to provide all necessary assistance to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Special Investigation Teams (SITs), noting that the agencies have reported facing multiple hurdles in carrying forward the investigations."We tentatively propose to constitute special courts with the concurrence of the State of Manipur and the High Courts of Manipur and Guwahati in order that trials can be taken up on a day-to-day basis," the apex court said.CRPF Issues New SoP For Manipur Personnel, Mandates Bulletproof Vehicles After Recent Assam Rifles Attacks The bench was informed that the SITs are probing 3,020 cases related to the Manipur violence across eight districts. Of these, charge sheets have been filed in 301 cases, charges have been framed in 41 matters, and trial has begun in only 10 cases.The apex court also noted that the prosecution proposes to examine 2,924 witnesses across these cases.With regard to the investigations being carried out by the CBI, the agency informed the apex court that it has filed charge sheets in 21 of the 31 cases transferred to it.It submitted that supplementary investigations are underway in 11 cases, while closure reports have been filed in six matters, three of which have been accepted by the competent court. Four cases continue to remain under investigation.Supreme Court Bars Posting, Reposting & Circulation Of Court Proceedings On Social Media Without Prior Permission The CBI also apprised the court of the practical difficulties affecting the investigations, citing the fragile law and order situation in the state. It submitted that recording statements and examining witnesses had been particularly challenging as a large number of them had been displaced due to the violence.Lawyers also informed the bench that prolonged internet shutdowns had adversely affected the collection of digital evidence, while restrictions on movement had impeded field investigations in violence-hit areas.Taking note of these constraints, the apex court observed that although the investigating agencies were facing genuine difficulties, the probes could not remain open-ended and must be completed within a reasonable timeframe.AI Facial Recognition System In Police Vans At Delhi Jantar Mantar Protest Sparks Privacy Breach Debate - VIDEO The court directed the Manipur Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to extend all necessary assistance to the investigating agencies and assess what additional logistical or administrative support could be provided to facilitate the investigations.It also sought a fresh status report on the progress of the probes and directed the authorities to compile details of all FIRs in which investigations are still pending or charge sheets have already been filed.The apex court also considered an application filed by the International Meitei Organisation seeking a CBI probe into the disappearance of about 30 persons and directed the applicants to approach the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, who could consider entrusting the issue to an SIT or any other appropriate forum.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

The Bench said it will help in finding out as to how many special courts will be needed to handle the trials expeditiously while proposing to set up Special Courts for Manipur violence cases