SC Appoints 3 Women Judges For Manipur Violence Probe

The Supreme Court has appointed a three-member panel of women High Court judges to oversee the rehabilitation work in conflict-affected Manipur. The investigation into the state's ethnic violence case will be jointly supervised by Deputy National Security Advisor and former Mumbai top cop, Dattatray Padsalgikar, along with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Manipur police.

Heading the three-member committee will be former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Gita Mittal, with the other two members being Bombay High Court Judge Shalini P Joshi and Delhi High Court Judge Asha Menon.

The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, emphasized the committee's broad-based remit, stating,” These judges would look at things, apart from the investigation, including relief remedial measures, rehabilitation, compensation, restoration of homes and religious places.” 

Furthermore, the Chief Justice instructed solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who represented the Manipur government, to ensure necessary security arrangements for the judges' panel whenever they plan to visit Manipur.

In addition to the judicial panel, senior police officers have been directed to supervise the investigation of criminal cases undertaken by the state's Special Investigation Teams (SIT). During the hearing, Manipur's Director General of Police (DGP), Rajiv Singh, appeared before the bench to answer questions regarding the ethnic violence and the actions taken by the administration thus far.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University