Supreme Court seeks updated status report from Manipur government on arms haul

 Tushar Mehta defends affidavit and says there is only one case of chicken pox contrary to Meenakshi Arora’s earlier submission

R. Balaji, TT, New Delhi, 07.09.23 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought an updated status report from the Manipur government, including details of the arms and ammunition seized during the ethnic violence in the state.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud asked solicitor-general Tushar Mehta to place before the court the status report on the recovery of arms, weapons and ammunition by the law-enforcing agencies.

Earlier during the hearing, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora, who was representing the three-member ex-judges panel appointed by the court, said she was recusing in view of a personal attack on her in the affidavit filed by the Manipur home secretary.

The affidavit accused Arora of making an unverified statement before the bench at the last hearing about the outbreak of measles and chicken pox in the state’s relief camps.

According to the home secretary, Arora’s statement was made “without any factual verification and without any consultation with the relevant government officials and created a panic”. Denying the home secretary’s contention, Arora said it was a personal attack on her credibility and she was recusing. Arora then walked out of the court hall.

Mehta, appearing for the Manipur government, defended the affidavit and said there was only one case of chicken pox contrary to Arora’s earlier submission.

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Meitei Christian Churches Council, however, supported Arora’s contention and said the home secretary’s affidavit had also cast aspersions on the Christian community for raising the issue of destruction of churches in the state and not other places of worship.

CJI Chandrachud told Mehta to keep out advocates appearing before it from such attacks. “Mr Mehta, next time let’s keep the counsels out of it,” he said.

Senior advocates Anand Grover and Vrindra Grover also brought to the court’s notice the alleged shortage of medicines, food and essential supplies at the various relief camps.