SC Directs Manipur Govt To Update Panel On Protecting Places Of Worship

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has instructed the Manipur government to update the court-appointed committee on the actions taken to safeguard places of public worship in the state, where ongoing ethnic clashes have resulted in over 170 fatalities since May. The directive, issued by a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, specifically addresses the restoration of places of worship and calls for a comprehensive list of damaged religious structures within two weeks.

The bench, which also includes Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized that the identification of damaged structures should encompass all religious faiths and denominations. Chief Justice Chandrachud stated, "The government of Manipur shall apprise the committee of the steps which have been taken to secure the places of public worship."

Furthermore, the apex court has tasked the committee, headed by former high court judge Justice Gita Mittal, with preparing a comprehensive proposal outlining the path forward. This proposal is expected to address the restoration of places of public worship that have suffered damage or destruction during the violence that erupted in May as reported by The Telegraph Online.

The Supreme Court is currently handling a series of petitions, some seeking a court-monitored probe into the incidents of violence and others focusing on relief and rehabilitation measures. The court had earlier appointed an all-woman committee, comprising former high court judges Shalini P Joshi and Asha Menon alongside Justice Gita Mittal, to address these concerns.

During the proceedings on Friday, the bench emphasized the committee's authority to take a holistic view of the matter, including addressing any new developments related to alleged illegal encroachments or occupation of places of public worship. The order further directed the State of Manipur and the Director General of Police to coordinate with the committee to ensure swift implementation of its interim suggestions.

The bench noted the presence of a significant number of individuals from various communities in relief camps and expressed concern. As Christmas approaches, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre and the state, assured the court that necessary steps would be taken to enable those in relief camps to observe the ceremonies.

Manipur has been grappling with escalating violence and chaos since May, triggered by a high court order regarding the inclusion of the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes. Ethnic clashes between the tribal Kuki and non-tribal Meitei communities have resulted in more than 170 casualties and hundreds of injuries. The Supreme Court's directive to the Manipur government reflects a crucial step towards addressing the impact of this violence on places of worship, underlining the importance of securing religious structures amid the ongoing turmoil.

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