On Friday(13th Sept), The MHA has extended the deadline for the judicial inquiry into Manipur’s ethnic violence by six months, with the report now due by November 20. Originally set for November 2023, the extension reflects the investigation’s complexity and scale.
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NEW DELHI: On Friday(13th Sept), The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced an extension for the ongoing judicial inquiry commission tasked with investigating the ethnic violence that has ravaged Manipur. The deadline for the submission of the commission’s findings has now been extended by six months, with the report due no later than November 20.
The commission, established 15 months ago, was initially given six months from the date of its first full sitting to submit its findings. This deadline was originally set for November 20, 2023, as per the earlier directive issued by the MHA. However, the complexity of the investigation and the scale of the violence prompted the Ministry to grant additional time for the inquiry.
In a gazette notification issued on Friday, the Ministry detailed the extension of the deadline. The notification read-
“Under the authority granted by Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (60 of 1952), the Central Government hereby amends its notification S.O. 2424 (E) dated June 4, 2023. The Commission is now required to submit its report to the Central Government by November 20, 2024, at the latest.”
This official communication reinforces the government’s intent to ensure a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the violent events that have left Manipur deeply scarred.
The judicial commission, constituted on June 4, 2023, is chaired by retired Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajai Lama. Alongside him, the commission includes retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar, both of whom bring extensive administrative and policing experience to the inquiry.
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The trio has been entrusted with the responsibility of delving into the root causes of the ethnic violence, determining how and why it spread across the region, and assessing any lapses in governance or security that may have contributed to the unrest.
The MHA has outlined several key areas that the commission must address as part of its investigation. Initially, the commission was tasked with examining the “causes and spread of violence and riots targeting different communities” in Manipur, events that erupted on May 3, 2023, and continued for a prolonged period.
Moreover, the commission is also responsible for evaluating the response of the state authorities and investigating whether there were any “lapses or dereliction of duty on the part of the state authorities”. This aspect of the probe is crucial, as it aims to identify whether the state government or its law enforcement agencies failed to act in a timely and effective manner to contain the violence.
The ethnic violence in Manipur has left deep divisions within the state’s communities, with many calling for accountability and justice. The violence primarily targeted specific ethnic groups, leading to large-scale displacements, loss of life, and damage to property. The commission’s findings are expected to shed light on the underlying factors that triggered the unrest and potentially offer recommendations on preventing such events in the future.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is keen to ensure that the inquiry is exhaustive, addressing both the immediate causes of the violence as well as the broader socio-political context that may have fueled tensions in the state. With the extension of the deadline, the commission now has more time to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and analyze the broader implications of the violence.
