The Supreme Court on Monday sought suggestions from the Manipur government and a batch of PIL petitioners on the interim report submitted by a retired judges’ panel recommending relief and rehabilitation measures for those affected by the violence in the state.
The bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said it had received three reports from the committee headed by Justice (retd) Gita Mittal. The bench also sought the assistance of solicitor-general Tushar Mehta and posted the case for further hearing on August 25.
The all-women panel is headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Mittal and includes Justices Shalini P. Joshi and Asha Menon, former judges of Bombay and Delhi High Courts.
The three reports have, among other things, highlighted that several residents
of Manipur have lost important documents during the strife; suggested that the compensation scheme announced by the Manipur government for victims be updated on the lines of those prescribed by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for people affected by violence, and that domain experts be appointed to deal with certain other issues of rehabilitation.
“Certain procedural directions are required in the matter which include requisite administrative directions, funding, necessary publicity by setting up a work portal and other infrastructure,” CJI Chandrachud said.
The bench said the suggestions can be collated by senior advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for some of the petitioners, in consultation with the committee. The suggestions are to be shared with the advocate-general of Manipur by Thursday morning so that the matter can be heard further on Friday.
Justice Chandrachud briefly explained that the first report of the three-member panel pertained to complaints from victims about the loss of crucial documents during the violence and looting. The second report related to the suggestion of the panel for fixing the minimum compensation on the basis of the schedule fixed under the NALSA scheme for victims of violence. The third report relates to the panel’s recommendations on the rehabilitation measures for the victims of violence, particularly women.
CJI Chandrachud told senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for some of the petitioners, that the panel should be given suitable accommodation for functioning within the premises of Delhi High Court. If that is not possible, the Centre may be directed to provide the necessary infrastructure, the bench said.
The court issued the directives while dealing with a batch of PILs seeking an independent probe by court-monitored SITs into the Manipur violence that has killed close to 170 people and displaced 60,000.
On August 7, the Supreme Court had directed a former Maharashtra police chief to oversee the investigation by the CBI and the special investigative teams into the atrocities in Manipur and asked the central agency to bring in at least five police officers from other states on deputation.
By the same order, the apex court had also set up the three-member committee to oversee all aspects of humanitarian relief and rehabilitation.
Explaining the remit of the panel, the bench had said: “This committee will be broad-based constituted to supervise, intervene and monitor relief, rehabilitation and restoration of homesteads, religious places of worship and all aspects of humanitarian relief.”
