Shillong, August 21: A committee, led by former Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal, and established to ensure justice for Manipur conflict victims, has recommended an escalation in compensation for those impacted by the violence. The committee’s three reports were submitted to the Supreme Court, outlining findings on the conflict.
Chaired by Justice Gita Mittal, the committee highlighted several critical points in its reports, prompting the Court’s attention. It urged for the reissuance of essential documents lost by individuals who were displaced during the Manipur violence. To address this issue, the committee proposed the appointment of a dedicated nodal officer to facilitate document recovery, including vital identification records such as Aadhaar cards.
Another significant aspect addressed was the victim compensation scheme. The committee underscored the need for improvements in the compensation framework. Specifically, they raised concerns about the existing scheme’s clause that excludes victims benefiting from other similar schemes.
Furthermore, the reports emphasized the requirement for an expert in nodal administration to streamline the administrative processes related to the case proceedings.
In response, the Supreme Court Bench, including Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, acknowledged the committee’s recommendations. The Court directed the reports to be shared with all advocates-on-record representing the petitioners. Administrative support, financial allocation to the committee, and publicity of its work were identified as key areas needing procedural directives.
Advocate Vrinda Grover was entrusted with the task of compiling the necessary directions and conveying them to the Manipur Advocate General by August 24, 10 PM. The case is scheduled for further discussion on August 25.
Earlier in the month, the Supreme Court established an all-women judicial committee, headed by Justice Gita Mittal, to oversee ongoing investigation efforts aimed at securing justice for victims of the violence in Manipur. Among its responsibilities, the committee was charged with assessing the ongoing investigations and proposing measures for remediation, compensation, and rehabilitation.
