Supreme Court Allows Manipur Violence-Linked CBI Case Trials in Assam, Permits Virtual Testimonies from Manipur
In a significant ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court has granted permission for the trial of criminal cases linked to the Manipur violence, which are under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to be conducted in Assam. Additionally, the Court has introduced a range of measures to facilitate the recording of victim statements from Manipur through video conferencing.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud headed the bench that issued this directive, taking into account Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's assurance that adequate internet infrastructure would be established in Manipur to support seamless video conferencing.
The Court's ruling emphasizes that victims who prefer physical appearances for the proceedings can still opt to travel to Guwahati, Assam. This flexibility aims to cater to the concerns raised by Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves and Advocate Vrinda Grover, who advocated for avoiding forcing violence survivors to travel to Assam.
Chief Justice Chandrachud assured that the process of recording statements and gathering evidence would occur virtually in Manipur under the guidance of the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court. Solicitor General Mehta clarified that Assam was chosen due to its superior internet connectivity.
With a focus on maintaining fairness throughout the trial process given Manipur's circumstances, the Court has outlined several directives:
1. The Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court will nominate officers of the rank of Judicial Magistrate First Class and sessions judge to oversee trial cases.
2. All proceedings related to accused production, custody extensions, and more will be conducted online, accounting for distance and security concerns in designated trial courts.
3. Judicial custody can take place in Manipur.
4. Witness statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) can be recorded in the presence of local magistrates in Manipur, designated by the Acting Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.
5. Video conference-based test identification parades will be supervised by a Manipur-based magistrate.
6. Investigating officers can issue search and arrest warrants online.
7. Judges fluent in Manipur's languages will be nominated by the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to preside over the criminal trial.
8. The Court underlined that the directives do not hinder physical appearances in Guwahati for those who prefer it.
The case before the Supreme Court pertains to the Manipur violence and includes a petition by two women from the Kuki-Zomi community who were subjected to molestation and public humiliation in a viral video. The Court's decision aligns with the ongoing efforts to ensure justice and accountability for the victims of the violence. The Court's proactive stance followed a committee's reports, headed by former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal, which recommended enhanced compensation for victims. The Central government's CBI investigation and the Court's suo motu involvement further underscore the commitment to address the grave issue. In an earlier instance on August 1, the Supreme Court criticized the State Police and authorities for their apparent inability to manage the law and order situation during the Manipur incidents.
TAGS: Supreme Court Manipur violence CBI cases Assam trial virtual testimonies video conference victim statements Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud Solicitor General Tushar Mehta internet facilities Guwahati appearances Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves Vrinda Grover fairness Gauhati High Court Judicial Magistrate sessions judge custody proceedings Section 164 Code of Criminal Procedure witness statements Manipur High Court test identification parades search warrants arrest warrants languages spoken in Manipur Kuki-Zomi community public humiliation compensation Justice Gita Mittal Central Bureau of Investigation suo motu case law and order situation.
