Manipur government to act on 13 suggestions directed by SC

Imphal: Amid the petitions related to the recent violence in Manipur, the Supreme Court on July 11 directed the Manipur government to act on some of the suggestions made by the petitioners to defuse the situation.
The court, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, sought “constructive suggestions” from the petitioners and affirmed that it cannot take control of law and order from the elected government.
On July 11, before a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Manoj Mishra, advocate Nizam Pasha presented a set of 13 propositions on behalf of the Zomi Students Federation of India. These proposals address various aspects related to the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
Some of the suggestions made by the Zomi Students Federation of India include:
1. Many bodies are lying unidentified and abandoned in several hospitals including Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Morgue, Imphal. The families of the missing persons are unable to reach these mortuaries.The State may designate a contact officer to facilitate escorted/guarded access of such families to mortuaries and facilitate the process of identification and handover of bodies for cremation.
2. There is an acute shortage of doctors in the district hospitals of the hill districts. To meet this shortage, doctors appointed by the Ministry of Health and doctors promised by the Home Minister may be sent to the district hospitals in the hill districts.
3. There is shortage of essential drugs, dialysis machines, CT scan machines in the district hospitals of hilly districts which needs to be addressed.
4. Arrangements are made for students of Churachandpur Medical College to attend classes at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal (JNIMS). Similar arrangements were made for medical students from JNIMS, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal (RIMS) and other medical colleges in Imphal to attend classes in other similar institutions outside the state can go.
5. Manipur University has decided to conduct examinations in all its affiliated colleges. These exams need to be postponed as schools and colleges in the hill districts have been converted into relief camps and a large number of students and university staff have been forced to leave their homes.
6. Helicopter services are provided between Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal and Imphal. In fact, such services are required between Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnopal and Aizawl, Guwahati and Dimapur as tribals from hill districts are still afraid to come to Imphal even to use the airport.
7. Jio and Vodafone cellular services have been non-functional in the state for the past several weeks and need to be restored.
8. The State Government has issued a circular dated June 26, 2023 asking all government employees to report to work immediately and threatening disciplinary action against employees who fail to do so. This circular may be withdrawn as a large number of people have either fled the state or are living in relief camps.
9. 105 relief camps in Churachandpur, 56 in Kangpokpi, 10 in Chandel, and 15 in Tengnopal are being run by community self-help groups. There is a severe shortage of drinking water, food, sanitation, shelter and beds for the displaced people living in these relief camps.The petitioner should be allowed to submit the list of items urgently required in these camps and the respondent State/Central Government should be directed to supply these items as soon as possible.
10. That a direction be issued by this Hon’ble Court that appropriate restraint should be exercised from making inflammatory or inflammatory remarks against a particular community by the persons holding public office, as issued by this Hon’ble Court. May escalate the dispute as per instructions. Case of Kaushal Kishor V. State of U.P., (2023) 4 SCC 1.
11. The Hon’ble Home Minister had indicated after discussions with representatives of all communities that an Inter-Agency Unified Command would be set up under the Chairmanship of Security Adviser Mr. Kuldiep Singh.However, according to the latest status report, the meetings of the Unified Command Center are chaired by the Chief Minister, which is against the stated position of the Central Government. This needs to be corrected to build confidence in the impartiality of the measures taken.
12. A status report should be called for on the number of weapons recovered from the police armouries, the number of weapons recovered and the steps being taken to recover the remaining weapons.
13. To facilitate the work of this Hon’ble Court, a committee consisting of representatives of both the affected communities and headed by a retired Judge of this Hon’ble Court to monitor the rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures and redressal of grievances related thereto. be set for same as.
This will ensure impartiality and build confidence in the impartiality of relief and rehabilitation measures. Currently, the teams of Ministers and MLAs appointed by the government to oversee the relief and rehabilitation measures consist of 35 MLAs in seven teams in charge of seven (7) districts (60 MLAs under the Act). from the instrument assembly) are included. The only MLA from the Zo-Kuki tribes who offends public confidence in the impartiality of the measures taken.
During the hearing, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta assured that necessary consultations would be held at the state administration level, and actions would be taken as per the suggestions.
The court also stressed the need for representation of the Zou-Kuki tribes in committees overseeing relief and rehabilitation measures to build public confidence.
The Supreme Court’s intervention seeks to address the ongoing violence in Manipur and provide relief and assistance to the victims. The court emphasizes the importance of maintaining peace, investigating allegations and taking appropriate measures to protect the lives of citizens in the state.
The issue of Scheduled Tribe status for the Meiti community has been the trigger for the recent riots in Manipur. The purpose of the court proceedings is to find a solution to the complex situation and restore stability in the region.
Additionally, the court also decided to take up a petition challenging the Manipur High Court’s order, which had allowed limited restoration of internet in the state.
On July 7, the Manipur High Court had ordered the state government to lift the internet ban on Internet Leased Line (ILL) and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) connections in the state, after ensuring that all Stakeholders have complied with recommended safety measures. An expert committee.
The Supreme Court has asked the state to report the action within a week on the directive.