Manipur Violence – Supreme Court Suggests Special Courts for Faster Criminal Trials
Manipur Violence – The Supreme Court on Friday proposed the establishment of dedicated special courts to conduct daily hearings in criminal cases arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur. The move is aimed at accelerating the judicial process while ensuring that victims and their families receive timely access to legal documents related to the ongoing investigations. The court also instructed the investigating agencies to speed up pending inquiries and provide copies of filed chargesheets to affected individuals without unnecessary delay.
Court Seeks Better Access to Chargesheets
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana heard multiple petitions connected to the Manipur violence. During the proceedings, the bench observed that several victims and their relatives had still not been supplied with copies of the chargesheets prepared by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Manipur Special Investigation Team (SIT). The judges stressed that access to these documents is essential for victims to effectively participate in the legal process.
To address this concern, the Supreme Court permitted legal aid lawyers representing the victims to approach the offices of the Chief Justices of the Gauhati High Court and the Manipur High Court for assistance in obtaining the required documents. The CBI and the SIT have been directed to make the chargesheets available within one week.
Details of Investigations Requested
The bench also asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing on behalf of the Union government, the Manipur government, the CBI and the SIT, to submit a detailed status of all cases linked to the violence. This report should identify investigations that have been completed with chargesheets already filed, along with cases where investigations are still underway.
According to the court, this information will help determine how many special courts may be required to ensure that criminal trials proceed efficiently and without unnecessary delays. The proposal reflects the court’s effort to strengthen the pace of judicial proceedings in cases arising from the prolonged unrest.
Focus on Missing Persons and Investigation Progress
In another important direction, the Supreme Court instructed the Manipur High Court to review matters related to around 30 people who remain unaccounted for since the violence began in 2023. The court highlighted the importance of ensuring that these cases receive appropriate judicial attention alongside the broader criminal investigations.
The bench further directed the CBI, the Manipur SIT and the court-appointed monitoring committee led by former Maharashtra Director General of Police Dattatray Padsalgikar to submit updated status reports detailing the progress made in investigating violence-related cases. These reports are expected to provide the court with a clearer picture of ongoing efforts and any remaining challenges.
Background of the 2023 Manipur Violence
The ethnic violence in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2023, after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised across the state’s hill districts. The protest opposed the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, triggering widespread clashes between different communities.
Since the violence began, more than 200 people have lost their lives, hundreds have suffered injuries and thousands have been forced to leave their homes. The prolonged unrest has led to numerous criminal investigations, making judicial oversight and timely legal proceedings a significant priority. The Supreme Court’s latest directions are intended to improve the pace of investigations, strengthen access to justice for victims and ensure that pending cases move forward through an organised and effective legal process.