Supreme Court’s six-judge team to visit Manipur relief camps on March 22

Nearly two years after ethnic violence claimed more than 200 lives and displaced over 50,000 people in Manipur, a six-member team of Supreme Court judges led by Justice BR Gavai would visit relief camps on March 22, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) said on Tuesday.

The ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023 during a “tribal solidarity march” organised in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for scheduled tribe status.

Justice Gavai – who is the Executive Chairman of NALSA – will be accompanied by Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice MM Sundresh, Justice KV Viswanathan and Justice N Kotiswar Singh during the visit to relief camps on the occasion of the duo-decennial celebrations of the Manipur High Court, a NALSA release said.

“This visit underscores NALSA’s steadfast commitment to justice, especially for the marginalised and vulnerable communities. By bridging the gap between legal rights and accessibility, NALSA aims to ensure that every displaced person receives the support, protection and resources they need to rebuild their lives with dignity,” it said, adding the judges’ visit highlighted the ongoing need for legal and humanitarian assistance to the affected communities.

Justice Gavai would virtually inaugurate legal services camps and medical camps across the state aside from new legal aid clinics in Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul districts and essential relief materials would be distributed to the internally displaced persons .

“Amidst the violence, NALSA with Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) played a crucial role in providing legal aid and support to affected communities,” it said, appreciating MASLSA’s role in establishing 273 special legal aid clinics in relief camps, assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in availing government benefits, lost documents and medical aid.

The authority said the legal services camps would connect IDPs with government welfare programmes, ensuring access to vital benefits like healthcare, pensions, employment schemes, and identity document reconstruction.