The Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a comprehensive status report on its investigation into cases stemming from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur. The direction came amid concerns over the pace of investigation, coordination gaps, and the need to ensure meaningful progress in prosecutions.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi examined the current monitoring framework and indicated that continued supervision by the apex court may not be necessary in the long term. The Court suggested that oversight of the trial proceedings could potentially be transferred to the jurisdictional High Courts — either the High Court of Manipur, which recently saw the appointment of a new Chief Justice, or the Gauhati High Court, or even through a coordinated mechanism between the two courts. Counsel appearing in the matter were asked to seek instructions on this proposed shift in supervisory responsibility.
The Bench stressed that the objective of judicial monitoring is to ensure accountability, efficiency, and fairness in sensitive cases of large-scale violence. However, it noted that High Courts are well-equipped to handle day-to-day supervision of criminal trials within their territorial jurisdiction. Decentralising oversight, the Court observed, could improve administrative efficiency while maintaining judicial scrutiny.
During the hearing, concerns were raised regarding procedural lapses and communication failures. Senior advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for some victims, pointed out instances where affected families were not informed about the filing of chargesheets. It was also highlighted that in certain hearings, the CBI or accused persons were absent, raising questions about effective coordination. The Court took note of these submissions and emphasised that the investigating agency must clarify the present status of all transferred cases, including the number of FIRs taken over, chargesheets filed, arrests made, and the stage of trial in each matter.
The Court further underlined the need to ensure robust victim participation in the criminal process. It reiterated that victims must have access to free legal aid where required, and that witness protection mechanisms should be strengthened to prevent intimidation. The Bench observed that in cases arising out of communal or ethnic violence, maintaining the confidence of survivors in the justice system is crucial.
The Manipur violence erupted in May 2023 following tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, triggered by a High Court order relating to the possible inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list. The clashes led to widespread destruction, hundreds of deaths, and the displacement of thousands of people. Numerous FIRs were registered across districts, and several sensitive cases were later transferred to the CBI under the Supreme Court’s supervision to ensure impartial investigation.
Over the past year, the apex court has constituted committees and issued multiple directions aimed at ensuring relief, rehabilitation, and fair investigation. The present hearing reflects the Court’s evolving approach — moving from direct centralised monitoring to potentially entrusting High Courts with closer supervision of trials while still retaining the power to intervene if necessary.
The matter has been posted for further hearing later this month, by which time the CBI is expected to file a detailed status report outlining the progress made and the challenges faced in prosecuting the cases.
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