Manipur Violence : Supreme Court Extends Term Of Justice Gita Mittal Committee By 6 Months

The bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra passed the following order : 

"The committee chaired by Justice Gita Mittal stands extended by 6 months."

Previously, Senior Advocate Vibha Makhija, who had been appointed as the amicus to represent the committee, mentioned before the bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud that the committee's term ended on July 15. She submitted that an extension is necessary for the committee to continue its important work.

The Justice Gita Mittal Committee was constituted by the Top Court in August last year 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.

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