Manipur Violence| Supreme Court Extends Tenure Of Justice Gita Mittal Committee Till July 31

The Supreme Court today (March 17) extended the tenure of Justice Gita Mittal Committee till July 31. The Committee is presently handling several humanitarian aspects of the ethnic violence in Manipur.

The Court also clarified that the sexual violence cases being handled by the CBI which were transferred to Assam for pre-trial steps would undergo trial in Guwahati Courts itself.

The bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna, Justices Sanjay Kumar and Joymalya Bagchi passed the following order :

"The Committee headed by Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court is extended till 31st July, 2025"

The bench also directed that the Committee's reports also be supplied to the Government except for those which may contain sensitive subjects. Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija, who was appointed as the amicus, represented the committee. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Union. Advocate Nizam Pasha also appeared for the tribal groups/victims.

The Court also clarified its earlier order of August 2023 where it directed to transfer the sexual violence cases handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to Assam for pre-trial steps. The bench expressly stated that the trial of such cases which were transferred to Guwahati would take place there itself.

" We clarify that the trial of the transferred will be before the concerned courts in Guwahati" the bench observed.

The said clarification came during the hearing of an impleadment application filed by a petitioner in relation to certain charges that were framed in the ethnic clashes in the State. The petitioner had informed that while the Chargesheet had been filed, the Guwahati Court has not taken cognizance and the trial has not yet begun.

The Union was additionally permitted time of 3 weeks to file the list of properties which have been burnt, looted or encroached upon amidst the ongoing ethnic clashes in the State. On December 9, the Court had directed the Central Govt. to furnish the list in a sealed cover.

The matter will now be heard on July 21.

Background

The Justice Gita Mittal Committee was constituted by the Top Court in August 2023 to address the humanitarian concerns stemming from the ethnic clashes in Manipur. The development came subsequent to the Court slamming the Manipur police investigation as "tardy" and expressing anguish at the sexual violence committed against women amidst the sectarian conflict.

The bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra constituted the committee comprising - i. Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir; ii. Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, former Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay; and iii. Justice Asha Menon, former Judge of the High Court of Delhi

The wide-ranging mandate of the committee includes the following key tasks : (1) Enquire into the nature of violence against women that occurred in the State of Manipur from 4 May 2023; (2) Submit a report to the Court on the steps required to meet the needs of the survivors including measures for dealing with rape trauma, providing social, economic, and psychological support, relief and rehabilitation in a time bound manner; (3)Ensure free and comprehensive medical and psychological care to survivors; (4) Ensure conditions of dignity in relief camps set up for displaced persons including suggestions for additional camps; (5) look into the disbursements of necessary compensations to victims of sexual assault, violence and next of kin.

Case Details: DINGANGLUNG GANGMEI Versus MUTUM CHURAMANI MEETEI AND ORS.| Diary No. - 19206/2023