SC Judges' 5-Member Delegation Arrives in Imphal, Manipur

 Supreme Court panel, headed by Justice Gavai and including Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, MM Sundresh, and KV Viswanathan, has landed at Guwahati airport. 

They are traveling to Imphal, Manipur, where they will visit relief camps today.

Justice Gavai, the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), will be inaugurating legal and medical service camps in all districts of Manipur, and new legal aid clinics in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Ukhrul virtually.

They will also be distributing necessary items among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

These legal camp services intend to connect IDPs with government welfare programs, including access to important benefits such as healthcare, pensions, employment schemes, and assistance with rebuilding identity documents.

On March 18, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh welcomed the six judges of the Supreme Court going to relief camps in Manipur's violence-torn area on March 22, with an aim to step up legal and humanitarian aid.

During an interview, Jairam expressed dismay at the delay in enforcing President's rule in the beleaguered state.

"We welcome the move of the six Supreme Court judges to travel to Manipur on March 22. In August 2023, the Supreme Court recognized a total collapse of constitutional order. Those were their very words, but it took the government almost 18-19 months to impose President's rule. 

Why the delay? There was no full-time Governor for six months after they removed a well-respected tribal woman from office and gave the job to the Governor of Assam. They then appointed a retired bureaucrat as the new full-time governor. What was the delay for?" the Congress MP asked.

The Manipur unrest, which broke out on May 3, 2023, was between the Hindu Meiteis and the tribal Kuki people, who are mostly Christian, after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM).

The violence spread across the state, and the Central government deployed paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control.