Correspondent
On July 27, 2023, the Supreme Court made a significant request in response to a petitioner seeking justice for distressing incidents of sexual assault and violence in Manipur. The petitioner urged the court to establish an independent committee, led by a retired apex court judge, to investigate the disturbing situation in the region. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud's bench was directed to hear the plea.
Initially, the matter was scheduled for listing before Justices S K Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia, as Chief Justice Chandrachud was not presiding on that particular day. However, Advocate Vishal Tiwari, who filed the petition, requested that his plea be heard alongside other related matters on Friday, as several pleas related to Manipur violence were already scheduled for hearing on that day.
The bench raised concerns about the need for an additional plea, given that the court was already aware of and handling related matters. Nevertheless, it agreed to hear the petitioner's case the following day under the leadership of Chief Justice Chandrachud.
In his plea, Tiwari highlighted the grave violations of the rule of law and the appalling brutality, chaos, and anarchy prevailing in Manipur. The recent viral video depicting the disgraceful treatment of two women by a mob, subjecting them to sexual harassment, deeply shocked the nation.
The petitioner accused the Union of India and the Manipur government of inaction despite ongoing violence, assault, sexual harassment, rape, and riots in Manipur. To address these issues, Tiwari called for the establishment of an independent expert committee with a mandate to submit its report within four weeks. The plea also sought action against state agencies for their alleged negligence and failure to comply with the 2013 verdict of the apex court in the Lalita Kumari case.
The Lalita Kumari case verdict laid down guidelines for the police, mandating the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) when information discloses a cognizable offense, and prohibiting a preliminary inquiry in such situations.
Furthermore, the petitioner urged for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the violence in Manipur.
Previously, on July 20, the Supreme Court expressed deep concern over a video showing two women being paraded naked in strife-torn Manipur. The court deemed the use of women as instruments for violence unacceptable in a constitutional democracy and directed the Centre and Manipur government to take immediate remedial, rehabilitative, and preventive actions, and provide updates on the measures taken.
The violence in Manipur initially erupted on May 3 during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Since then, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 150 people and left several hundred others injured.
The Supreme Court's request for an independent committee to investigate the distressing incidents in Manipur is a crucial step towards seeking justice for the victims and addressing the violence and sexual assault that has plagued the region.