SC asks authorities to set up to 2 special courts to deal with Manipur violence cases probed by CBI, NIA

The Supreme Court is pushing for specialized judicial mechanisms to address the fallout from Manipur's 2023 ethnic violence. On Monday, the court urged the governments of Manipur and Assam to consider setting up two exclusive trial courts. One court would focus on cases investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while the other would handle those probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

This directive comes as the apex court monitors the status of investigations into the complex and widespread violence that has gripped the northeastern state. A bench, led by the Chief Justice, emphasized the need for efficient and focused prosecution of cases stemming from the ethnic clashes.

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The authorities shall consider setting up two separate exclusive courts, one for dealing with the CBI cases and another for dealing with the NIA cases arising out of the Manipur violence. The registrar general of the high court shall submit a status report in this regard before the next date of hearing.

Beyond establishing dedicated courts, the Supreme Court also mandated the compilation of crucial case information. Details such as case numbers and the current status of proceedings are to be made available to victims, their families, and legal counsel. This move aims to ensure transparency and allow affected parties to access relevant records and follow the legal process.

The court's concern extends to ensuring that these special courts are indeed dedicated to Manipur violence cases, rather than being burdened with other unrelated matters. The directive also noted ongoing efforts by state police and security forces to recover arms and ammunition and make arrests, stressing the need for uninterrupted investigations by the CBI and NIA.

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The request is that particulars of those cases, including the relevant case numbers and status of the proceedings, be made available so that the legal counsel as well as the families concerned have access to the reports and proceedings. We accept the request and direct that the relevant particulars and reports be compiled and placed before the court.