The Supreme Court of India appointed former Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) Dattatray Padsalgikar to oversee Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe into the continuing ethnic violence in Manipur. In an order made public on Thursday, however launched Monday, the Supreme Court condemned delays in CBI’s investigation and ordered Padsalgikar to analyze allegations that Manipur police “colluded with the perpetrators” of sexual violence. Padsalgikar is directed to oversee the investigation by the CBI into the FIRs transferred to it together with the investigation by the investigative equipment of the
State into the remaining FIRs. Accordingly, he’ll oversee the investigation and likewise ensure that the FIRs are filed in accordance with the distinctive circumstances of every case by invoking the related prison provisions.

In the judgment, the bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra noticed:

“There are serious allegations including witness statements indicating that the law-enforcing machinery has been inept in controlling the violence and, in certain situations, colluded with the perpetrators. Those who are responsible for a breach of public duty must equally be brought to account, regardless of their rank, position, or post. Every officer of the state or other employee of the state who is guilty not only of the dereliction of their constitutional and official duties but of colluding with perpetrators to become offenders themselves must be held accountable without fail.”

Additionally, the court docket formed an all-women judicial committee to look at the continuing probes by the CBI and the state police into incidents of violence and to supervise the investigation, rehabilitation and reduction measures. The court docket emphasised that these two broad goals should subserve, firstly, it should be ensured that the violence ceases and the perpetrators of violence are punished, and secondly, it should be ascertained that the rule of legislation is restored and public confidence within the investigative and prosecutorial course of is sustained. The court docket highlighted that there ought to be real makes an attempt to revive the religion and confidence of the group within the justice system.

Concluding the order, the court docket requested Dattatray Padsalgikar and the three-Judge Committee to submit studies on the progress made inside a interval of two months and made remorseful remarks in regards to the “manner in which women have been subjected to grave acts of sexual violence in the course of the sectarian strife”. Ethnic violence in Manipur started on May 3 this 12 months when the High Court of Manipur recommended the Chief Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) chief N Biren Singh that Meitei group be added to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) record.

The present violence in Manipur emerged following a March order by the Manipur High Court within the case of Mutum Churamani Meetei v. The State of Manipur. The order, authored by Justice M V Muralidharan, directed the inclusion of the Hindu majority Meitei group within the record of Scheduled Tribes, which comes with entry to instructional, employment and different financial advantages. The predominantly Christian Kuki and Naga communities, who already benefit from the standing of Scheduled Tribes, launched protests vehemently criticizing the High Court order. Consequently, violence broke out to such heightened diploma that the federal government ordered the Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, to instantly take measures to revive peace.