A team of six Supreme Court judges will be visiting relief camps in Manipur on March 22 to strengthen legal and humanitarian support to displaced people living in the such camps after communal violence rocked the State in 2023. .The judges who will be visiting the riot affected State are Justice BR Gavai, who is also the chairperson of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, MM Sundresh, KV Viswanathan and N Kotiswar Singh.."Nearly two years after the devastating sectarian violence of May 3, 2023, which led to the loss of hundreds of lives and displaced over 50,000 people, many continue to seek refuge in relief camps across Manipur. This visit by the Supreme Court Judges highlights the ongoing need for legal and humanitarian assistance to these affected communities," a press release issued by NALSA on March 17 said..During the visit, Justice Gavai will virtually inaugurate legal services camps and medical camps across all districts of Manipur as well as new legal aid clinics in Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul districts. There will be distribution of essential relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).The legal services camps will connect IDPs with government welfare programs, ensuring access to vital benefits such as healthcare, pensions, employment schemes, and identity document reconstruction. "Each participating State Department will outline at least five key schemes tailored to address the needs of the displaced population. A team of 25 specialized doctors from Chennai will conduct medical camps across all relief camps. Their services will continue for six additional days," the press release further said..Amidst the violence, NALSA with Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) has been providing legal aid and support to affected communities. MASLSA has established 273 special legal aid clinics at relief camps, assisting IDPs in availing government benefits, lost documents, and medical aid..The clashes and violence in Manipur stemmed from the opposition of certain tribes to the demand by the majority Meitei community to grant them Scheduled Tribes status.On April 19, 2023, the Manipur High Court had ordered the Manipur government to “consider inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.This led to clashes between tribal and non-tribal communities.Various petitions were also filed before the Supreme Court after the riots.The Supreme Court also registered a suo motu case after two women from Kuki-Zomi community who were seen in a video being paraded naked and molested by a mob of men.The video of the horrific incident went viral on social media triggering outrage.The Supreme Court later constituted a three-member all-women judicial committee headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal to examine the probe being conducted to ensure justice to all who are victims in the incidents of violence in the State.
