Manipur Violence : Supreme Court Proposes Special Courts For Day-to-Day Trials, Seeks Faster Completion Of Probes

The Supreme Court on Friday proposed the constitution of special courts to conduct day-to-day trials in criminal cases arising out of the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, expressing concern over the prolonged delay in investigations and emphasizing that pending probes must be completed within a reasonable time.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana noted the status reports filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Special Investigation Teams (SITs), and former Maharashtra DGP Dattatray Padsalgikar, who was appointed by the Court to monitor the investigations.

The Court recorded that the CBI has filed charge sheets in 21 cases, while investigations are continuing in 11 cases. Closure reports have been accepted in three cases, and four cases remain under investigation. It further noted that SITs investigating 3,020 cases across eight districts have filed charge sheets in 301 cases, with trials having commenced in only 10 cases.

According to the status reports, a total of 2,924 witnesses are proposed to be examined across the cases.

The CBI informed the Court that it has been facing significant challenges in completing investigations, including the relocation of witnesses, lack of cooperation due to mistrust, language barriers, and difficulties in collecting digital evidence because of the prolonged suspension of internet services in the State.

Taking note of these difficulties, the Bench observed:

"It may be true that on account of the challenges highlighted, they might be facing hardships in taking investigations to their logical conclusion. Nevertheless, pending investigation must be completed within a reasonable time."

The Court then indicated that it was considering setting up special courts in consultation with the State of Manipur and the High Courts of Manipur and Gauhati so that trials could proceed on a day-to-day basis.

"We tentatively propose to constitute special courts with the concurrence of the State of Manipur and the High Courts of Manipur and Guwahati in order that trials can be taken up on a day-to-day basis.." the Court said.

It stressed that this would be possible only if the CBI and SITs complete their investigations and file charge sheets expeditiously. The State of Manipur was directed to extend full cooperation to the investigating agencies.

The Bench also directed the CBI, SITs and the Court-appointed monitoring officer to file fresh status reports. It asked the Additional Solicitor General to collate details of all FIRs in which investigations are pending or charge sheets have been filed, observing that such data would help determine the number of special courts required.

Charge Sheets to Victims Within One Week

The Court also dealt with complaints that victims' families had not received copies of the charge sheets despite earlier directions.

Advocate Vrinda Grover submitted that the families of both deceased victims had informed her that they had still not been supplied the charge sheets. The Court noted that although the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court had earlier reported that mechanisms had been put in place to facilitate legal aid and supply of charge sheets, compliance remained incomplete.

The Bench directed legal aid counsel to immediately contact the offices of the Chief Justices of the Manipur and Gauhati High Courts, directing the authorities to ensure that charge sheets are supplied within one week of such contact.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati clarified that the Court's earlier directions were confined to supplying charge sheets to victims and their lawyers, and not to women's groups or PIL petitioners, as the documents relate to sensitive criminal proceedings.

Missing Persons Plea

The Court also considered an application by the International Meitei Organization seeking a CBI probe into the disappearance of about 30 persons.

After hearing the parties, the Bench directed the applicants to approach the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, who could consider entrusting the issue to an SIT or any other appropriate forum.

Reconstruction of Places of Worship

Advocate Sharukh Alam, representing an organisation of Christian Churches, submitted that several places of worship destroyed during the violence had not yet been reconstructed and that some sites were allegedly facing encroachments.

Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that the authorities had rightly prioritized rebuilding houses for displaced persons.

"People need a roof over their head. But no encroachment should be allowed. After housing is completed, they can consider reconstruction of public places," the CJI remarked.

Justice Bagchi added that any further encroachment must be stopped immediately.

The Bench permitted the petitioners to submit details of affected religious structures to the Court-appointed three-member committee. It directed the committee to verify the claims and ensure that wherever lawful structures had existed before being demolished, the sites were protected from encroachment.

The tenure of the three-member committee was extended till December.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat sought bail for an 18-year-old accused who was allegedly booked only for recording a video during one of the incidents. He argued that the principal accused had already been granted bail.

The Bench noted that the CBI has challenged the grant of bail to the main accused. When Farasat submitted that the Court had earlier orally indicated that it was not inclined to cancel the bail, the Bench adjourned the matter for hearing on Monday.

Case : CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION v. ARUN KHUNDONGBAM @NANAO | SLP(Crl) No. 5756/2026 and connected cases