Mokokchung, 25 September (MTNews): The Supreme Court, addressing grievances in the Manipur ethnic violence case on Monday, urged petitioners to trust the Justice Gita Mittal Committee to handle the matters. According to a PTI report, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated that the court couldn’t manage the state administration and suggested either scrapping the committee or relying on it.
Various issues were raised by petitioners, including Aadhaar card distribution, compensation for victims’ families, rebuilding religious buildings and homes, body disposal, and court functioning in Manipur. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned that the committee could resolve immediate problems with a simple phone call to the Manipur Chief Secretary.
The Justice Gita Mittal Committee, tasked with relief, rehabilitation, and restoration in Manipur, aims to restore faith in the rule of law among Manipur’s people. The court agreed with the state government that complaints should be brought to the committee for resolution.
The court also directed the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to issue Aadhaar cards to displaced individuals with existing records. For others, the court said that swift verification should precede card issuance.
The apex court also instructed the state to issue duplicate disability certificates, particularly to those in relief camps and asked the State Finance department to order banks to facilitate displaced individuals in accessing their accounts.
Furthermore, the court directed the Manipur government to release funds to local authorities for compensation distribution to violence-affected families. The court also ordered the State to appoint a nodal officer in Delhi to guide people who had fled Manipur during the violence. The officer would help victims file complaints and petitions with the appropriate authorities in the State.
When asked about the disposal of bodies in the morgue, Mr Mehta plainly said that the “State was taking steps.”
The court directed video-conferencing facilities to be installed in district courts across Manipur within a week, warning the State that any violation of the direction would attract contempt proceedings in the Supreme Court.