During the Supreme Court session on Monday, the court rejected a new Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the Manipur violence. The PIL sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry into alleged poppy cultivation and narco-terrorism in the region, among other matters.
The court’s decision to decline the petition to establish a Special Investigation Team was based on its concern that it appeared to unfairly single out one community for blame. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, constituting the bench, called for a more specific petition that could address the issues at hand in a more balanced and comprehensive manner.
Madhavi Diwan, a senior advocate representing the petitioner Mayanglambam Bobby Meetei, decided to withdraw the plea following the court’s observations. The bench had pointed out that the current petition covered a wide range of issues, including violence, narcotics, and deforestation, which made it challenging to address adequately.
Diwan had previously highlighted cross-border terrorism and poppy cultivation as contributing factors to the recent violence in Manipur. In the petition, various parties were named, including the Narcotics Control Bureau, the National Investigation Agency, the National Human Rights Commission, and the state government.
The Manipur violence has been ongoing since May 3, stemming from a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in opposition to the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. This unrest has resulted in the loss of at least 150 lives, with hundreds more sustaining injuries.
Meanwhile, during the Lok Sabha session, opposition protests demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Manipur issue led to disruptions, and the session was adjourned until 2 pm. Speaker Om Birla informed the members about the presence of a Parliamentary delegation from Malawi visiting India and extended a warm welcome to them. The situation surrounding the Manipur violence continues to be a matter of concern and political attention, prompting further discussions and debates in the nation’s highest court and parliament.