The Supreme Court of India directed the Central Bureau of Investigation and Manipur SITs to provide charge sheet copies to victims in 2023 ethnic violence cases, after reviewing former Maharashtra DGP Dattatray Padsalgikar’s status report on ongoing investigations.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has issued fresh directives for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Special Investigation Teams (SITs) of Manipur to provide copies of charge sheets related to the 2023 ethnic violence cases to the victims and their families. This decision follows a thorough review of the 12th status report presented by former Maharashtra Police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar, who has been overseeing the investigations into these criminal cases in Manipur.
In his report, Dattatray Padsalgikar informed the court that the CBI has filed charge sheets in 20 cases related to the violence in special court, while investigations for six additional FIRs are still ongoing and are expected to be completed within the next six months.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, emphasized the need for timely completion of investigations into the remaining cases, urging the CBI to ensure that charge sheets are filed within the stipulated timeframe.
Recognizing the plight of the victims, Senior Advocate Vrinda Grover brought to the court’s attention that the victims and their families remained uninformed about the status of their cases. Responding to this concern, Chief Justice Kant directed the CBI and the SITs to share copies of the charge sheets with the affected individuals.
Additionally, the court ordered the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) and the Assam State Legal Services Authority to provide free legal aid counsel to each victim. The bench highlighted the importance of communication, stating that these lawyers should be proficient in the local language to facilitate effective dialogue between the victims and their legal representatives.
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The Supreme Court has also mandated that the Manipur SLSA cover the travel and accommodation costs for legal aid counsels traveling to Guwahati for trial proceedings. The court had previously transferred the cases to Assam from Manipur in a bid to ensure a fair trial.
Furthermore, the legal services authority is responsible for bearing the expenses incurred by victims and their family members for traveling and staying in Guwahati, ensuring that one individual per case can avail of this assistance.
The legal aid counsels will be allowed to assist the special trial court either through public prosecutors or independently, depending on the circumstances. Importantly, the bench clarified that it has not reviewed the charge sheets nor commented on their merits, affirming that victims and their families are free to raise any grievances before the special court overseeing these cases.
Conclusion:
This ruling by the Supreme Court reflects a proactive approach to safeguarding the rights of victims and ensuring transparency in the legal process.
By mandating the sharing of charge sheets and providing legal support, the court aims to empower those affected by the violence in Manipur, highlighting the importance of justice and accountability in the face of tragic events.
As these cases continue to unfold, the legal framework established by the court will play a crucial role in addressing the grievances of the victims and their families.
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