As the Supreme Court heard a petition seeking a SIT inquiry into the Manipur unrest on Monday, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud expressed grave worry about the loss of life and property as a result of the violence in the state. "Our immediate goal is to protect, rescue, and rehabilitate people," the Supreme Court stated, requesting the Centre and the state government for information on relief camps, news agency ANI reported.
The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narashima and Justice JB Pardiwala, underlines that adequate provisions for food and medical care be provided in relief camps, as well as all required steps for the rehabilitation of displaced individuals and the protection of sites of religious worship.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing to be held on May 17.
According to the Solicitor General, a peace meeting was held, and continual monitoring was maintained, using helicopters and drones for surveillance, relief camps were established, and food and medical facilities were given.
According to the Solicitor General, no violence has been recorded in two days, and the curfew was eased for a few hours yesterday.
The apex court takes note of the Solicitor General's statement that, in order to restore normalcy in the state, 52 companies of CAPF and 105 columns of Army/Assam Rifle have been deployed in Manipur, flag marches have been conducted in troubled areas, a senior police officer has been appointed as security advisor, a senior officer from the centre has been appointed as chief secretary, and movement of stranded people is being facilitated by security forces.
Clashes between Meiteis and tribals occurred in the Churachandpur area last Wednesday. Tribals are opposing reservation for Meiteis following a March 27 Manipur High Court decision for the state administration to give a proposal to the Centre within four weeks on the Meitei community's claim for ST status.
Dinganglung Gangmei, a BJP MLA and chairman of the Hills Area Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, argued in his appeal that the "proceedings before the High Court were vitiated by not making the HAC a party," and that the HC order created tension and 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 high court orders, including contempt notices, related to the issue.
The majority of Meiteis, who account for around 53% of Manipur's population, live in the Imphal valley. The Naga and Kuki tribes, which live mostly in the hill areas, account for another 40% of the population.
(With Inputs From Agencies)