Manipur Violence: SC Transfers CBI Cases To Assam, Asks Chief Justice To Appoint Multilingual Judges

Manipur Violence: The Supreme Court issued directions to transfer the sexual violence cases pertaining to ethnic clashes in Manipur to Gauhati HC.

Manipur Violence: The Supreme Court on Friday directed that the sexual violence cases, related to the ethnic clashes in Manipur, be transferred to the Gauhati High Court in Guwahati, Assam. The top court said that the trial in these cases would take place at the Gauhati HC. According to legal news website, Live Law, the top court asked the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court to nominate judges who are conversant with one or more languages spoken in Manipur.

"The Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court shall nominate judges who are conversant with one or more languages spoken in Manipur to deal with the criminal trial," Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said.

The SC directed the Manipur government to provide seamless internet services to facilitate hearing in CBI cases through online mode.

In a series of directions, a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said applications for remand, extension of custody, issuance of warrants and other judicial procedures could be virtually made by the investigating agency before the designated courts in Guwahati.

The CJI gave the direction "bearing in mind distance and security issues at the courts that will be designated to conduct the trial".

The Supreme Court also stated that victims and witnesses could give evidence virtually from Manipur instead of travelling physically to the courts in neighbouring Assam.

"There have been victims in valleys, and in hills. It would be difficult for people who suffered in valleys to travel to hills, and other way round. We are not on who suffered more, just the practical difficulty," Live Law quoted the CJI as saying.

The court also said applications for search and arrest warrants would be issued by the investigating officer online.

Manipur Violence: Previous Orders Issued By Supreme Court 

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court, lamenting over the "absolute breakdown of law and order and the machinery in Manipur", appointed a panel comprising of three retired women judges to oversee relief and rehabilitation of the victims.

The Supreme Court also appointed Dattatray Padsalgikar, former Maharashtra Director General of Police, to supervise the investigation to be undertaken by CBI as well as SITs.

More than 160 people have been killed since violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.