The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Manipur and Assam governments and other authorities to consider setting up two special trial courts exclusively to hear CBI and NIA cases arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was taking stock of the status of investigations into cases linked to the violence.
“The authorities shall consider setting up two separate exclusive courts, one for dealing with the CBI cases and another for dealing with the NIA cases arising out of the Manipur violence. The registrar general of the high court shall submit a status report in this regard before the next date of hearing,” the bench ordered.
SC seeks details of chargesheeted cases
The bench also directed authorities to compile details of cases in which chargesheets have been filed, including relevant case numbers and the status of proceedings.
The information is to be made available so that victims, their families and legal counsel can access the relevant records.
“The request is that particulars of those cases, including the relevant case numbers and status of the proceedings, be made available so that the legal counsel as well as the families concerned have access to the reports and proceedings. We accept the request and direct that the relevant particulars and reports be compiled and placed before the court,” the bench said.
The registrar general of the concerned high court has also been asked to submit a status report before the next hearing.
CBI filed 22 chargesheets in 31 cases
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the bench that the CBI has investigated 31 cases and filed final reports in 27 of them.
These include 22 chargesheets and five closure reports, while four cases remain under investigation. Of the 22 chargesheeted cases, cognisance has been taken in 20 and is pending in two.
All CBI cases have been transferred to Gauhati, Bhati said. Only one of the 22 cases is triable by a magistrate, while the remaining matters are Sessions trials.
NIA has chargesheeted 15 cases
The NIA was entrusted with 30 cases and has filed chargesheets in 15, while investigations continue in the remaining 15.
“The 15 charge-sheeted cases are ripe for trial despite further investigation continuing, and charges have been framed in seven of them,” Bhati told the court.
Of the 15 NIA cases, two are before a Delhi court, five before courts in Gauhati and eight in Manipur.
Court flags security and access concerns
The bench also noted issues involving attacks on Assam Rifles and protests seeking NRC before the census.
It said joint action by Manipur Police and security forces had strengthened efforts to recover arms and ammunition and make arrests. The CBI and NIA should also be provided the necessary support to conduct investigations without interruption.
The court stressed that state and central agencies must coordinate to maintain security, including the safety of students.
Senior advocate Vrinda Grover raised concerns over victims and their families not receiving status reports and chargesheets despite earlier directions.
The ethnic violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, following a Tribal Solidarity March against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the majority Meitei community. More than 200 people have been killed, hundreds injured and thousands displaced since then.