The Supreme Court on Monday said that the Manipur violence case is a” humanitarian issue” and it is “concerned deeply about the loss of lives and loss of properties”, while hearing a batch of petitions seeking appropriate directions to deal with the alleged violence in the trouble torn, North Eastern state.
“This is a humanitarian issue. The government is taking action. Our immediate target is protection, rescue and rehabilitation of people. We are concerned deeply about loss of life and loss of properties,” the bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chadrachud said, in the order.
“We emphasize that due arrangements must be made in the relief camps. and all necessary precautions must be taken for rehabilitation of displaced persons. Medical care should also be provided in relief camps,” the Supreme Court said, and fixed the matter for further hearing to May 17.
The Apex Court also said that thhese proceedings before the Supreme Court should not become a ground to further destabilize the state.
The Apex Court was hearing a batch of pleas relating to the recent incidents of violence in Manipur. One of the petitions sought directions to the Central and State governments to evacuate Manipuri Tribals who had fled to CRPF camps.
Another one filed by, Manipur Tribal Forum, sought SIT probe into the case.
The Apex Cour asked the petitolioners that you may flag your concerns in appropriate manner so that this proceeding doesn’t become another ground for destabilization.
The Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for Union and state of Manipur, assured the Apex Court that all necessary steps are being taken & the court should take up the reservation issue only after the situation is brought under complete control.
“The curfew was relaxed yesterday and there was no incident and today also it was relaxed for a while and no untoward incident took place. let normalcy resume. 35 CAPF troops appointed. One senior member was repatriated to that place. No violence in the state in last 2 days. Normalcy is resuming there,” the SG Mehta assured the Supreme Court.
The SG Mehta also said that helicopters and drones being used, relief camps organised for housing people and providing food, reservation etc can be seen later. On ground army and other paramilitary forces are working and they are successful, let everything calm down. this case can come up after 10 days.
The CJI also noyes in its order that appropriate steps are being taken by competent forum in this regard, as regard the steps being taken for restoring normalcy.
It said that the SG Mehta Solicitor has placed on record a statement that 52 companies of CAPF and 101 companies of Assam riles in Manipur, flag marches conducted in disturbed areas, and senior police officer appointed as security advisor.
The CJI Chandrachud, noted that the SG has said that action is being taken by competent forum so we’ll not get into it further. We’ve made our concerns very clear. “Our only target is protection and stablisation”, the Court said.
It noted that the counsel have expressed their concerns regarding rehabilitation. SG has assured that the concerns raised in petition and affidavit shall be duly taken note of and remedial steps required will be adopted.
The Apex Court also questioned the Manipur high court order directing the state government to recommend to the Centre the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.
UNI SM GNK
