New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday, May 8, asked the Union and Manipur governments to take necessary steps to enhance security for those affected by the ethnic violence in the Northeastern state, and provide relief and rehabilitation to them.A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud issued the directive after taking into cognizance submissions made by the solicitor general Tushar Mehta – representing both governments – that no untoward incidents were reported from the border state in the past two days. The bench, which also comprised Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, ordered the government to take steps to protect places of worship. The apex court was hearing a PIL filed by Manipur Tribal Forum seeking a special investigative team led by former Assam DGP Harekishna Deka, and another plea by the chairman of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), D. Gangmei, challenging the Manipur high court’s April 19 order to the state government to forward a recommendation to the Ministry of Home Affairs to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community. Gangmei’s petition also sought the quashing of a contempt notice issued by the high court after taking note of the HAC passing a resolution against the order. The HAC is a body within the state assembly under Article 371C of the Constitution and comprises MLAs from the hill districts. Gangmei is a BJP MLA. Since May 3, at least 52 people have been reported dead and several more injured in ethnic violence between tribal and Meitei groups. Thousands have been displaced and are taking shelter in army relief camps, while reports suggest that hundreds of villages have been burnt to ashes in one of the worst ethnic clashes that the state has seen in recent years. More details on the reasons behind the clashes can be read here.According to a PTI report, solicitor general Mehta told the court that flag marches are being conducted in the disturbed areas and peace meetings were being held. As many as 52 companies of central armed forces, and contingents of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed in the conflict-ridden districts to bring the situation back to normal.Also, a senior police official has been appointed by the government as security advisor, besides an IAS officer dispatched from New Delhi taking over as the chief secretary. Mehta also highlighted that the curfew has been relaxed for a few hours on Monday and Tuesday keeping the situation in mind.“The bench directed that all necessary efforts should be made for rehabilitating those displaced,” the PTI report said. The court asked the state “to ensure that due arrangements are made in relief camps in terms of food and medicines,” a LiveLaw report said.The court would hear the case again on May 17 and has asked the state and Union governments to file an updated status on the measures taken to control the situation.
