Six Supreme Court Judges to Visit Manipur Relief Camps on March 22 to Support Displaced Communities
Kiran Raj
In a significant initiative aimed at reinforcing legal and humanitarian support for communities displaced by last year’s violence, a six-member team of Supreme Court judges will visit relief camps in Manipur on March 22. The visit coincides with the Duodecennial Celebration of the High Court of Manipur.
The judges visiting the State include Justice B.R. Gavai, chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, M.M. Sundresh, K.V. Viswanathan, and N. Kotiswar Singh. Justice Kotiswar Singh is originally from Manipur.
Nearly two years have passed since the sectarian violence of May 3, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds and forced over 50,000 people from their homes. Thousands of families continue to reside in relief camps across Manipur, with ongoing needs for legal, social, and medical support.
Justice Gavai will virtually inaugurate a series of Legal Services and Medical Camps across all districts of Manipur. Additionally, new Legal Aid Clinics will open in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Ukhrul districts. Relief materials will also be distributed to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as part of the initiative.
The Legal Services Camps aim to bridge the gap between displaced communities and government welfare programs. IDPs will be provided access to essential benefits such as healthcare, pensions, employment schemes, and assistance with reconstructing lost identity documents. State Departments will present at least five targeted schemes to address the specific needs of the displaced population.
A team of 25 specialized doctors from Chennai will oversee Medical Camps at all relief sites. Their services, including treatment and the provision of essential medicines, will extend for an additional six days beyond the visit.
NALSA and the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) have been actively working in the State since the outbreak of violence. MASLSA has set up 273 Special Legal Aid Clinics in relief camps, supporting IDPs in accessing government entitlements, retrieving lost documentation, and obtaining medical assistance.
The violence in Manipur erupted following opposition from tribal groups to a demand by the majority Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status. On April 19, 2023, the Manipur High Court directed the State government to consider this inclusion, sparking clashes between tribal and non-tribal groups. The unrest led to several legal cases being filed with the Supreme Court, including a suo motu case concerning a viral video that showed two women from the Kuki-Zomi community being paraded naked and assaulted.
In response to this and other incidents, the Supreme Court set up a three-member, all-women judicial committee led by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal to oversee investigations and ensure justice for victims of the violence.
