The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern over reports of unnatural deaths in relief camps in Manipur, including an alleged incident of sexual assault, and directed the State Chief Secretary to submit a comprehensive report on the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the steps taken to ensure the safety and dignity of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana issued the directions while hearing a batch of petitions concerning the investigation and trial of sexual violence cases arising from the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence.

The Court considered a report submitted by a committee headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, which dealt with issues including compensation and referred to reports of deaths in relief camps.

The Bench directed the Manipur Chief Secretary to provide details of all 25 unnatural deaths reported in the media, along with post-mortem reports and other relevant documents establishing the causes of death.

The State Government was also asked to explain the measures taken to protect IDPs living in relief camps and ensure their safety and dignity. The Court directed that adequate medical facilities and essential day-to-day necessities be provided to those residing in the camps.

The order noted that the committee's report had referred to 640 deaths in relief camps across eight districts. Post-mortem examinations had reportedly been conducted in only 20 cases, despite criminal cases having been registered.

The Court also took note of reports that compensation of only ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 had been paid in the cases.

The Bench sought an explanation from the State on why post-mortem examinations had been conducted in only 20 cases and why such limited compensation had been provided.

The Manipur Legal Services Authority was directed to immediately address the issue and ensure that FIRs are registered in all cases of unnatural deaths, the causes of death are properly ascertained, and measures are taken to safeguard the safety and dignity of IDPs and victims in relief camps.

It was also directed to ensure that investigations in FIRs already registered are completed expeditiously.

The Court questioned the Manipur Advocate General about the information sought by the committee on July 4 regarding the 25 reported unnatural deaths of IDPs in relief camps.

“Tell your Chief Secretary not to invite orders. Tell us what measures you have taken,” Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked while directing the State to furnish the required information.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the Bench that 42 Special Investigation Teams (SITs) had been constituted across eight districts to investigate 3,020 cases.

According to the status report, charge sheets had been filed in 302 cases, closure reports in 1,583 cases, while 1,135 cases remained under investigation. Trials had commenced in 33 cases.

The Court also considered the status of cases being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Bench was informed that the CBI was investigating 31 cases. Charge sheets had been filed in 28 cases, closure reports in six cases and three cases remained under investigation. Proceedings had commenced in all cases where charge sheets had been filed.

The status report stated that 978 witnesses had been cited, but only six had been examined so far. Thirty-eight persons had been arrested in connection with the cases.

The Bench also discussed the need to expedite the trials, particularly since the transferred cases were being heard by a Special Court in Gauhati.

Advocate Nizam Pasha, appearing for the victims, submitted that cross-examination was underway but the court was able to take up the matters only two days a week.

Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that even hearing the matters twice a week would help in ensuring speedy trials. He also suggested exploring the possibility of assigning the CBI cases to two courts to expedite the proceedings.

The Bench further directed the Additional Solicitor General to ensure that the Gauhati High Court's requirement for two courts to hear National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases was addressed immediately.