Supreme Court Questions the Center and State over mismanagement in Manipur

The Supreme Court on July 31 placed multiple questions to the Union govt. and state govt. on the ethnic “unabated” violence in Manipur, which reared its head on May 3.

A Bench lead by CJI DY Chandrachudhas asked Manipur Police “the incident was of May 4 and the Zero FIR was registered only on May 18. Why did the police take 14 days to register the FIR? What was the police doing from the 4th of May till 18th of May?” The bench added that the horrifying viral video of two women from Manipur from two weeks ago was not an isolated incident and surmised that there have been several such instances.

"You also said there are about 6000 FIRs. What is the bifurcation? How many involve offences against women? How many involve other serious offences like murder, arson, burning down houses? What is the bifurcation between offences against body, offences against properties, offences against places of worship?" enquired CJI.

Solicitor GeneralTushar Mehta responded by saying that he does not have specific instructions regarding the number of FIRs and the bifurcation. CJI expressed his surprise at the fact that the state does not have the facts in its possession.

CJI Chandrachud said that the viral video incident cannot be seen as a standalone offence and commented that it was part of a systemic violence, "There are statements by the victims that they were handed over to the mob by the police. This is not a situation like 'Nirbhaya'. That was also horrific but it was isolated. This is not an isolated instance. Here we are dealing with systemic violence which IPC recognises as a special offence. In such case, is it not important that you should have a specialised team?There is a need in the State of Manipur to have a healing touch because the violence is continuing unabated."

Advocated BansuriSwaraj intervened submitted his request to the Supreme Court to take cognizance of violence against women in West Bengal and other parts of the country.

The CJI retorted, "Here we are dealing with something which is of unprecedented magnitude, namely crimes and perpetration of violence against women in a situation of communal and sectarian strife. There is no gainsaying the fact that crimes against women are taking place in all parts. You cannot excuse what is taking place in one part of the country like Manipur on the ground that similar crimes are happening in other parts too. Are you saying protect all daughters of India or don't protect anyone?" CJI asks the counsel.

The bench also constitutes of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, who are focused on the need to rebuild confidence in the people and help them to return to their normal lives.