Manipur: SC directs to ensure distribution of basic supplies

Government should explore all options including air-dropping of necessary items, the top court said

SNS, New Delhi, 1 September 2023: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the Manipur government to ensure the distribution of basic supplies such as food. medicines, and other essentials to those affected by the Manipur violence so that no citizens are left without basic human facilities.

The Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice Pardiwala, on a plea for the removal of the blockade on National Highways and other areas preventing movement of rations, said that the manner in which the blockade is dealt with is under law enforcement.

However, considering the humanitarian aspect of the matter, the government should explore all options including air-dropping of necessary items, the top court said.

It asked the Centre and Manipur government to inform it about the steps taken by them on the next date of hearing. The matter was then posted for hearing on 6 September. The apex court passed the directions after senior advocate Meenakshi Mora appeared for the judges' committee constituted by it to deal with the humanitarian aspects of the issue.

Ms Arora said there are two issues - first, blockades in the Moreh region of Manipur which had prevented people from getting basic rations and the second is an outbreak of chickenpox and measles in some relief camps.

The Bench also took into note the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that nodal officers have been appointed by Manipur and the Central government.

It said that the committee setup by the apex court shall be informed about the nodal officers so that the committee could reach out to the government directly.

The apex court also said that the government would have to take a call on the bodies lying unclaimed in the morgues as the same could spread diseases.

"Solicitor General, I think the government will have to take a call on the bodies in the morgues. They will just cause the spread of disease. Ultimately, the bodies have to be dealt with in a dignified manner," the CJI said.

The top court is seized of the cases relating to the violence in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki communities.

In Imphal, former Deputy National Security Adviser D.D. Padsalgikar, who was appointed by the Supreme Court to monitor and supervise cases handed over to CBI and those of SITs, met Manipur Governor Anusuiya Hike), and apprised her of the current crisis in the state.

Raj Bhawm sources said that Mr Padsalgikar informed the Governor that to begin with 42 SITs will beset up and investigate all the violence-related cases in Manipur expeditiously.

The former deputy national security adviser has been recently posted to Manipur mainly to supervise the cases investigated by the CBI and SITs.

"As far as the cases in the Hills districts are concerned. Mr Padsalgikar informed the Governor that video conferencing facilities would be provided through BSNL and NIC to get the cases investigated," the sources said.

According to Mr Padsalgikar, the first status report of the investigation will be submitted to the concerned authority by the first week of October.