Northeast Desk, 6th August: The Supreme Court of India has extended the tenure of the Justice Gita Mittal committee by six months to continue overseeing the relief and rehabilitation of victims affected by ethnic violence in Manipur.
The extension was granted by a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra. The committee’s initial tenure expired on July 15, prompting the extension to ensure the ongoing oversight of the situation.
The committee was established on August 7 of the previous year, following the court’s directive to monitor relief efforts and compensation for victims, as well as to supervise investigations into related criminal cases. The panel is headed by Justice Gita Mittal, the former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court. It also includes former Bombay High Court Judge Justice Shalini P Joshi and former Delhi High Court Judge Justice Asha Menon.
The formation of this committee followed the Supreme Court’s condemnation of disturbing footage showing women being paraded naked, which highlighted the severity of the ethnic violence in Manipur. The violence, which erupted on May 3, 2023, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March,’ has resulted in over 200 deaths, numerous injuries, and widespread displacement of people. The march was organized in opposition to the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
In addition to the committee, former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar has been tasked with monitoring the progress of criminal investigations related to the violence. The committee is empowered to report directly to the Supreme Court, which continues to supervise the resolution of the crisis.
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