The Supreme Court Wednesday sought from the Manipur government a fresh status report on steps taken in the wake of the recent sectarian strife in the state.
“We are not transferring all proceedings to Manipur. Let the state government give us a fresh status report on reopening. We are not stalling any proceeding before the High Court, but independently as a constitutional court, we want to be appraised periodically on what steps are being taken”, a three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachcud said.
The bench also comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala took a grim view of the March 27 single-judge order of the Manipur High Court asking the state government to submit a recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community.
“I think we have to stay the order of the HC. The order of the HC is absolutely… wrong,” the CJI said, adding that the SC “gave” the single judge “time to correct himself and he has not done so and we have to take a very serious view.”
However, upon being informed that an appeal had already been filed by the All Manipur Tribal Union challenging the March 27 order, the Supreme Court declined to stay the same and said in its order that since the division bench is seized of it, “we leave it open to the parties who are aggrieved by the order of the Single Judge to make appropriate submissions before the Division Bench in that regard”.
The Court also told solicitor general Tushar Mehta who appeared for the state, “Please advise constitutional authority that statements should be made with a great sense of responsibility”. The bench said this after a counsel contended that authorities including the chief minister were making objectionable statements which can only worsen the situation.
The solicitor general also agreed with concerns that Myanmar people were entering Manipur illegally and said: “…it’s a concern of the government also and steps are being taken.”
Mehta informed the bench that the single judge had already extended the one-month time given in the March 27 order to submit the recommendation by one year.
“The High Court has extended the period from one month to one year. We have filed a writ appeal also and moved the same single judge seeking extension of one year as its one tribe versus another… We had an option of challenging this order and seeking stay of it. Considering the position on ground, there is one tribe which according to the HC must be conferred with the status, we chose not to seek stay and seek only extension for one year so that situation calms down… Stay again would have some impact on the situation on the ground,” said Mehta.
Meanwhile, in a status report submitted to the Court, the state informed about steps taken to bring normalcy to the law and order situation in Manipur, including details of relief camps, compensation packages made available on account of death or injury, security to religious places, transportation of stranded persons, registration of FIRs and seizure of arms.
The solicitor general said that a total of 318 relief camps have been opened where more than 47,914 persons have been given relief. Provision of food, water, ration and medical care and medicines are being arranged by the district magistrates, he said, adding that the state has also sanctioned Rs 3 crore as a contingent fund to meet exigencies in providing relief measures. The solicitor general further said the state has also decided to earmark 25 per cent of MLA Local Area Development fund for relief measures in respective assembly constituencies, among others. Security is also being provided to places of worship and specific security measures are being taken in every district and every locality in accordance with the need of specific areas, he submitted.
