Supreme Court: While hearing a set of petitions for seeking Special Investigation Team (‘SIT') Probe into Manipur violence and challenging the order of Manipur High Court, wherein the State of Manipur was directed to consider recommending the Centre to include the Meitei Community in the Scheduled Tribe list of Constitution of India, within the period of four weeks, the three Judge Bench of Dr. D.Y Chandrachud (CJ), P.S Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, JJ., expressed its concern over loss of human life, destruction of homesteads and directed the authorities to provide medical care in relief camps.
Background
The Meitei community had their tribal status before 21-09-1949, i.e., before signing the Merger Agreement with the Union of India (‘UOI'). However, while merging Manipur with the UOI, the Meitei community of Manipur had lost their status and identity of being tribals. Thus, the members of the Meitei Tribe Union approached the High Court. The High Court directed the State of Manipur to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, expeditiously, within a period four weeks.
As a result of the said decision, violence broke out between the people of Meitei community and Kuki community in the State. The violence in the State had reached such heights that the Centre Government had to intervene to control the situation. Thus, different petitions were filed before the Court seeking probe into the violence and challenging the High Court's decision.
Court's Order
The Solicitor General of India stated that appropriate steps were being taken by the State of Manipur to recall the High Court's order and to restore normalcy in the State.
The Court expressed its concerns over the loss of human life and destruction of the homesteads and places of worship. Thus, the Court emphasized that, there is need to:
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ensure that due arrangements are made in the relief camps by providing all basic amenities in terms of food and medical care;
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take all necessary precautions for the rehabilitation of displaced persons; and
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protecting the places of worship.
The Court said that critical medical care was required to be extended to persons in relief camps, thus, the authorities were directed to make arrangements for providing medical care either at Army hospitals or other suitable hospitals.
The Court also directed the State of Manipur to apprise the Court about the steps taken to provide relief and rehabilitative measures. The petitions were listed for further hearing on 17-05-2023.
[Dinganglung Gangmei v. Mutum Churamani Meetei, Special Leave Petition (civil) diary no(s). 19206/2023, Order Dated: 08-05-2023]