The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a detailed report from the Manipur government on alleged unnatural deaths and incidents of sexual harassment involving internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in relief camps in the state. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the Manipur Chief Secretary to file an affidavit detailing the deaths, including post-mortem reports and documents relating to their causes.
The court was hearing petitions concerning the investigation and prosecution of sexual-violence cases arising from the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023. The bench referred to reports submitted by a committee headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, which had examined the conditions of displaced people living in relief camps.
The apex court questioned the state government over the action taken on information provided by the committee regarding deaths in the camps, including cases suspected to be unnatural. “Tell your Chief Secretary not to force the court to pass an order. Inform us what steps you have taken,” Chief Justice Surya Kant told the state.
According to the material placed before the court, more than 30 deaths had been reported in relief camps. The bench specifically sought details of 25 suspicious deaths and directed the state to provide information on the circumstances surrounding each case. The court also questioned the limited number of post-mortems conducted in such cases. “Why postmortems were conducted in 20 out of 34 death cases?” the bench asked, according to its order.
It further questioned the compensation provided to families of IDPs who died unnatural deaths while staying in the camps. “The state is also obliged to explain as to why only ₹20,000-30,000 as compensation was paid to internally displaced persons who met with unnatural deaths while sheltered in relief camps,” the court said.
The bench directed the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) to file a separate status report and ensure that FIRs are registered in all cases of unnatural deaths. It also asked the authority to ensure that investigations are conducted expeditiously and that the safety and dignity of IDPs residing in relief camps are protected. The court's order followed its examination of the Justice Mittal committee's report and a report submitted by an IAS officer, which recorded more than 30 deaths in relief camps. One of the cases reportedly involved an alleged sexual assault preceding the death.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the CBI and the Manipur government, informed the bench about the progress of investigations into cases linked to the violence. She said the state had constituted 42 Special Investigation Teams (SITs) across eight districts. The SITs have registered 3,020 cases, with charge sheets filed in 302 cases. Closure reports have been submitted in 1,583 cases, while investigations remain pending in 1,135 cases. Trials have commenced in 33 cases investigated by the state SITs, Bhati said. The CBI, meanwhile, has investigated 31 cases, with final reports filed in 28. Three CBI cases remain under investigation, she said.
The bench also expressed hope that two special trial courts established to exclusively hear CBI and NIA cases arising from the 2023 violence would complete proceedings expeditiously. It noted that details of the cases had been made available to legal services counsel and could be accessed by victims who are pursuing their matters.
The information was provided by the Manipur government and former IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar, who is monitoring the CBI's investigation into cases arising from the violence.
The ethnic conflict in Manipur began on 3 May 2023 following a tribal solidarity march organised in the hill districts against a demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the majority Meitei community. The violence has since claimed more than 200 lives, left several hundred people injured and displaced thousands from their homes. The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Manipur and Assam governments and other stakeholders to consider establishing special courts to deal exclusively with CBI and NIA cases arising from the violence.
