The Supreme Court of India has instructed a committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs to convene at least once every three months to address concerns faced by individuals from the Northeastern states residing in different parts of the country. The direction was issued by a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice K Vinod Chandran while hearing a long-standing matter focused on safeguarding the rights and dignity of people from the region.
The Court emphasized that the panel must function proactively rather than mechanically. Apart from holding quarterly meetings, it should promptly assemble whenever serious incidents especially those reported in the media or brought to its notice require urgent attention. The judges also directed that the next meeting be conducted within a fixed timeframe and that a detailed status report outlining discussions and action taken be submitted before the Court.
The committee, headed by Niraj Kumar Bansod, was formed to ensure implementation of recommendations made by the Bezbaruah Committee. Its mandate includes monitoring complaints of racial discrimination, coordinating with law-enforcement authorities, and reviewing measures aimed at improving safety and inclusion for Northeastern residents across India.
These directions arise from a writ petition pending since 2015 that seeks stronger institutional mechanisms to protect members of the Northeastern community from bias, harassment, and violence while living outside their home states.
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