Supreme Court Plans Special Courts for Manipur Violence Cases, Orders Faster CBI & SIT Investigation

By Thetripurapost Desk, Imphal
Jul 24, 2026
118

In a significant move aimed at delivering timely justice to victims of the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence, the Supreme Court of India has proposed the creation of special courts to conduct day-to-day trials of criminal cases arising from the conflict. The apex court also instructed investigating agencies to accelerate pending investigations and ensure that victims receive copies of charge sheets without further delay.

The Bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, observed that numerous complainants have yet to receive charge sheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Manipur Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Victims Must Receive Charge Sheets Within One Week

While hearing petitions related to the ethnic violence, the Supreme Court permitted legal aid lawyers representing affected families to approach the Chief Justices of the Gauhati High Court and the Manipur High Court to obtain essential case records wherever necessary.

The Bench further ordered the CBI and the State SIT to provide copies of all filed charge sheets to victims within seven days, emphasizing transparency and victims' legal rights.

Supreme Court Wants Faster Completion of Investigations

The Court also directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Manipur Government, the CBI and the SIT, to continuously monitor the progress of investigations and submit updated information on completed probes and filed charge sheets.

The judges said these reports would help determine the number of special courts required to efficiently dispose of the large number of pending criminal cases.

The Bench indicated that the proposed courts would be established in consultation with the Government of Manipur, the Manipur High Court, and the Gauhati High Court so that hearings could proceed on a daily basis. It stressed that such fast-track trials would become effective only after the investigating agencies complete all pending inquiries and file the remaining charge sheets.

Read More

Supreme Court Allows Manipur To Appoint DGP From Outside Cadre Amid Continuing Ethnic Unrest
https://www.thetripurapost.com/NewsTripuraPost/supreme-court-allows-manipur-to-appoint-dgp-from-outside-cadre-amid-continuing-ethnic-unrest-3237.html

Missing Persons Cases Also Under Judicial Review

The Supreme Court further instructed the Manipur High Court to closely examine cases involving nearly 30 people who remain missing since the outbreak of the violence.

Former Maharashtra Director General of Police Dattatray Padsalgikar, who heads the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee, along with the State SIT and the CBI, has also been directed to submit fresh status reports on the missing persons' investigations.

Read More

Manipur Violence: Security Forces Intensify Operations Amid Rising Naga-Kuki Tensions

https://thetripurapost.com/NewsTripuraPost/manipur-violence-security-forces-intensify-operations-amid-rising-naga-kuki-tensions-amnesty-demands-hostage-release-3347.html

Background: Manipur Ethnic Violence

The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which began in May 2023, remains one of India's most serious internal security and humanitarian crises. According to official estimates, the violence has resulted in the deaths of more than 260 people while forcing nearly 60,000 residents to leave their homes.

Security forces continue search operations, area domination exercises and intensified deployment across vulnerable regions of Manipur to maintain law and order while investigations into hundreds of criminal cases continue.