Manipur violence: BJP MLA moves SC against HC order on ST status to Meiteis

IMPHAL-  The Supreme Court will on Monday hear a batch of pleas on the Manipur Violence including one by a ruling BJP MLA challenging the high court order on the issue of ST status to the Meitei community and a PIL by a tribal outfit for an SIT probe into the violence that rocked the state.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narashima and JB Pardiwala is scheduled to hear the matter.

Watch video to know, Why did Manipur burn?

Dinganglung Gangmei, BJP MLA and chairman of the Hills Area Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, in his appeal contended that the “proceedings before the High Court were vitiated on account of not making the HAC a party” and the HC order created tension and led to violence between the two communities.

 “Even if directions were to be given they could not have been given without notice to the HAC and hearing the HAC,” said the MLA who challenged various orders, including contempt notices, by the high court related to the issue.

He said that the HC order led to tension between both communities and violent clashes erupted across the state. the appeal said.

Manipur violence: State Government issues ‘shoot-at-sight’ order

The PIL filed by an NGO ‘Manipur Tribal Forum’, through advocate Satya Mitra, said it has moved the top court under Article 32 of the Constitution on account of the extreme situation arising out of the attacks on the tribal community in Manipur by a “dominant group”.

It alleged that “these attacks have the full support of the party in power … which supports the dominant group” and sought directions to the Centre and Manipur to evacuate Manipuri tribals who have fled their villages.

The PIL by the tribal outfit alleged that the attacks began on May 3 and several churches and hospitals were also damaged when the mobs went on a rampage, burning houses and vehicles and business establishments belonging to tribals.

Watch Video

The PIL sought directions to the Centre and the state government to deploy central forces to protect all churches and places of worship of the tribal/Christians in Manipur with immediate effect.

It urged that a team of professionals be put together to conduct an inquiry into the villages destroyed and make an assessment of the damage. It also sought payment of compensation to the victims and reconstruction of buildings including churches.

Army holds Flag March after Violence hits Manipur

“A prayer clause has been made for the appointment of former DGP Assam (Harekrishna Deka) as the head of an SIT to investigate and prosecute and with a mandate to put together a team of his choice of police personnel and other support secretarial staff so that final reports are made expeditiously,” it said.

One more appeal has been filed by the chairman of the Hill Area Committee challenging the order dated May 3 of the High Court in which notices were issued to them in a contempt petition filed by members of the Meitei community.