The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Union of India as well as the State of Manipur to ensure adequate supply of basic essentials such as food, medicines and others to the victims of ethnic violence in the state.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala told the governments to explore all options, including air-dropping of ration and removal of blockades, so that there was no denial of basic human facilities to the victims and those affected by the violence.
The Apex Court passed the direction after Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora, appearing for the judges’ committee constituted by the Supreme Court to deal with humanitarian aspects of the matter, informed the Bench that blockades in Moreh region of Manipur were preventing people from getting basic ration.
The Senior Advocate further apprised the Apex Court about the outbreak of measles and chickenpox in some relief camps.
At the commencement of hearing, the CJI asked Arora why she was appearing before the court instead of reaching out to the government directly.
The Bench then ordered Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to send a formal notice of nodal officers appointed to the Committee, so that the Committee could reach out to the government directly.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, representing the respondents, interjected at this juncture and said that the committee could not do anything when it came to the blockades.
SG Mehta sided with Gupta and said it was not within the remit of the committee. Senior Advocate Indira Jaising apprised the Apex Court about the scarcity of food in Moreh area due to the blockades.
She said the committee could not direct the armed forces to remove the blockade.
Noting that removing blockades was a complex and sensitive issue which required careful consideration, as these blockades were often set up by local individuals or groups, the CJI said it was ‘easier said than done’.
The Bench then directed the government to take appropriate steps to address the situation after evaluating the ground realities.
The Apex Court was apprised by another counsel about the blockades affecting other areas, including the National Highway 2, which ran from Dimapur (Nagaland) to Imphal.
The Bench, while noting that the manner in which the blockade was dealt with, would come under law enforcement, said that considering the humanitarian aspect of the matter, the government should explore all options including air dropping, if necessary.
It further directed the Centre to intimate the Court about the steps taken to ameliorate the situation in the next hearing.
The Counsel appearing for the Centre sought a short adjournment to respond to the reports of the committee.
The Apex Court accepted the request and listed the matter for further hearing on September 6.
Other issues of the region were also highlighted before the top court of the country.
Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta said that there was an IA filed pertaining to the demolitions in the state.
The Bench directed for a copy of IA to be served to the SG so that he could take instructions from the State of Manipur in the matter.