The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Manipur Tribal Forum and other petitioners to come out with concrete suggestions to improve the law-and-order situation in the state, cautioning that the proceedings cannot be used as a platform for escalating violence.

“We don’t want this proceeding to be used as a platform for further escalation of violence and other problems which exist in the state. We do not run the security apparatus or law and order. If you have suggestions we can take,” a bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha told senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for the forum.

“Let’s not see this as a partisan matter, it’s a humanitarian issue,” the bench added.

The bench, however, asked solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and state, to examine the plea of Manipur High Court Advocates Association to lift the blockade of the 10km stretch of a highway, the only lifeline for essential supplies.

The court also agreed to hear on Tuesday a PIL that had challenged the Internet restriction imposed in the state in the wake of the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3.

The bench was dealing with a batch of PILs filed by the forum and others seeking, among other things, the deployment of the army, restoration of the Internet and supply of essential items in the state.

During the arguments, Mehta informed the bench that the state has filed a status report on the latest situation in Manipur.

“The matter may be taken up by the petitioner with the utmost sensitivity because any misinformation may aggravate the situation in the state. Things are returning to normalcy after a lot of effort from the central and state government,” Mehta told the bench.

Gonsalves, however, told the bench that there has been a serious escalation of violence contrary to the claims of the state.

The CJI asked Gonsalves to examine the status report filed by the state and come out with concrete suggestions.

However, Gonsalves said the death toll has risen to 110 from 10 in May, prompting CJI Chandrachud to say: “Your scepticism cannot lead us to take over the law and order. This is under the Centre and the state.”

The CJI told Mehta: “Last time it was drawn to our attention that a large number of weapons were taken from police stations. What is the extent of action taken?”

Gonsalves said there was a severe escalation by armed groups that are notified and banned under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), which according to him are being used by the state to target the Kukis.

“This is not the platform where we do this. We should be conscious of the remit of the Supreme Court. We are not running the security apparatus. We cannot run the law and order... the elected government does. We understand your feelings but there should be certain modalities of arguing before this court,” the CJI said.

Later, the court adjourned the matter for Tuesday.