Apex court cannot be used as platform to escalate tension in Manipur: Supreme Court

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, July 10

As the situation in the ethnic violence-hit Manipur continues to be grim, the Supreme Court on Monday asked advocates representing various parties to make concrete, constructive suggestions to restore normalcy and deferred the hearing to July 11.

As senior counsel Colin Gonsalves, representing Manipur Tribal Forum, alleged that it’s a “state-sponsored violence” against Kukis, a Bench of CJI D Y Chandrchud and Justice PS Narasimha said it didn’t want the court to be used for further escalation of violence in the state.

“We do not want these proceedings to be used as a platform for further escalations of violence and other problems. We must be conscious that we are not running security or law and order. This is a humanitarian issue and needs to be looked at from that angle,” the Bench told Gonsalves.

“Keeping in mind these facets we will hear the case tomorrow,” the CJI said, asking him to give constructive suggestions.

Gonsalves said he was sceptical as he has been before the court since the middle of May when the casualties were 10 and now it has reached 110..

“Your scepticism cannot lead us to take over law and order. We should be conscious of the remit of the Supreme Court. We cannot run the law and order…the elected government does,” the CJI told Gonsalves.

The top court asked the Centre and the Manipur Government to consider the suggestion of the Manipur High Court Bar Association that blockade of 10 km stretch of National Highway-2, the only life line of the state, should be kept clear for ensuring supply of essential commodities to civilians.

The 1,325.6-km-long NH-2 runs from Dibrugarh to Tuipang, passing through the states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

On behalf of the State of Manipur, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: said he has filed a status report.

“The matter may be taken up by the petitioner with utmost sensitivity because any misinformation may aggravate the situation. Things are returning to normalcy after a lot of effort from the central and state governments,” Mehta submitted.

After perusing the status report, the Bench asked the advocates for various parties to come up with constructive suggestions and posted the matter for further hearing on July 11.

In the meantime, the Manipur Government has challenged the state high court’s order allowing restoration of the internet services in the state. In its July 7 order, the high court lifted the internet ban on Internet Lease Line (ILL) and Fibre To The Home (FTTH) connections in the state in terms of the safeguards suggested by an expert committee.

The state government’s petition was mentioned by the Solicitor General before the Bench led by CJI Chandrachud for urgent listing. Initially, the Bench agreed to take it up on Monday itself along with other Manipur related cases listed for hearing. But later, the Bench posted it for hearing on Tuesday.