'Deeply Disturbed, Using Women As Instruments To Perpetrate Violence Unacceptable' : Supreme Court Takes Cognizance Of Manipur Sexual Violence Video

The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of the horrific video showing two women in Manipur being paraded naked and subjected to sexual violence amidst the ethnic conflict in the State. The Court asked the Centre and the State Government to inform it of the steps taken to bring the perpetrators into law.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had sought for the presence of Attorney General for India R Venkataramani and Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta today morning. When the Court assembled, addressing the AG and the SG, CJI said : "We are very deeply disturbed by the videos which have emerged yesterday about the two women who were paraded in Manipur. We are expressing our deep concern. It is time that the government really steps in and takes action. This is simply unacceptable".

"Using women as instrument in an area of communal strife to inflict gender violence is deeply deeply disturbing. This is the grossest of human rights violations", CJI said. Though the video was of May 4, it does not make a difference, CJI said.

"We will give a little time for government to take action otherwise we will step in", CJI warned after asking details of the action taken by the authorities since May to book the criminals. CJI also asked what action was taken by the Government to ensure that such instances are not repeated. "Who knows whether it was isolated or if there is a pattern", CJI said.

CJI told the the law officers that the Court was taking note of this issue for consideration in the ongoing batch of cases concerning Manipur violence. The matter will be considered next Friday.

The CJI dictated the following order :

"The Court is deeply disturbed by the visuals of the video which have appeared in the media since yesterday about the perpetration of sexual assault and violence on women in Manipur. We are of the view that the Court must be apprised of the steps taken by the government to hold the perpetrators accountable and also to ensure that such instances are not repeated in the strife in Manipur. The visuals which are portrayed in the media would indicate reflects gross constitutional violations and infraction of human rights. Using women as instruments to perpetrate violence is simply unacceptable in a constitutional democracy. We direct the Union and the State Government to take immediate steps to apprise the Court of what action has been taken".

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