Submit Report On Steps Taken To Identify, Secure Places Of Worship Damaged During Violence: SC To Manipur Govt

The Supreme Court also asked the Manipur government to ensure that people in camps celebrate Christmas without any trouble.

The Supreme Court has asked the Manipur government to apprise the court-appointed committee of the steps taken to secure places of public worship and asked it to furnish within two weeks the identifications that have been carried out to identify places of worship that were vandalised, damaged, burnt and destroyed during the ethnic clashes between Kuki and Meitei community in the state. The court, as per Live Law, added that the identification shall be across all religious denominations. When the Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud asked how many places of worship has been identified so far, the advocate in court submitted 247.

The state government said that a detailed affidavit on places identified and secured has been filed in the court to which th CJI said, "Three steps really- one, identification; two, securing the places; three, restoring the places."

Noting that Friday is the last working day in the court before this year's winter break, the CJI said he would issue certain directions to the committee. 

"In order to further facilitate the exercise being carried out by committee, we issue the following direction:

1. The government of Manipur within 2 weeks shall furnish to court appointed committee identification carried out. We clarify that identification shall be across all religious denominations.

2. State of Manipur shall tell committee of steps taken to secure the places of worship

3. Based on the exercise of identification, we permit the committee to prepare a comprehensive proposal for the way forward including in regard to restoration of places of worship," the CJI directed.  

The CJI said the panel would be at liberty to take a comprehensive view of the matter including supervening events of encroachment/occupation of places of worship. He said a large number of persons belonging to various communities are presently in relief camps across the northeastern state and asked SG and ASG to ensure that "necessary steps will be taken so that all those in relief camps can celebrate", the report in Live Law added.

The apex court also asked the Manipur government to evaluate the situation, and after independently carrying out an investigation bring out a comprehensive proposal or response as the case may be for the restoration of houses destroyed in the violence.