The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Manipur government for making sure that a decent burial is given to the bodies of unclaimed people whop were killed in Manipur violence.
Taking a note of the fact that ever since May 2023, there has been no change in the situation and continued violence
Considering that the violence has been going on since May 2023, a bench comprising of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud along with Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said that it would not be appropriate to keep the bodies indefinitely in the mortuaries.
The Court has thus directed that list of identified bodies should be duly intimated to the family and the last rites should be performed with dignity keeping to the religious norms associated.
The Apex Court passed directions for the Manipur state like the next of kin of the bodies, should be permitted to carry out last rites at any of the identified nine burial sites without any interference by any party whatsoever.
The order also states that the State shall intimate the next of kin about the nine burial sites and this shall be completed on or before next Monday.
Talking about the unclaimed bodies, the State was instructed to issue another communication to the next of kin that they are at liberty to carry out last rites together with religious rites at any of the burial/cremation site.
The top court said that the Collector and Superintendent of Police shall take appropriate steps for the maintenance of law and order.
The Court has also directed the Chief Secretary to take appropriate action accordingly.
The Supreme Court was hearing a batch of pleas related to the ongoing outbreak of violence in Manipur.
The court had constituted an all-woman judicial committee headed by Justice (retired) Gita Mittal earlier to examine the probe being conducted into the violence.