Manipur High Court Issues Notice To Union, State, Army & Assam Rifles Officials On Meitei Group's Contempt Petition

The Manipur High Court has issued notice to the officials of Union Government, State Government, State Police, Army and the Assam Rifles on a contempt petition filed by International Meeteis Forum. The Forum has alleged that the authorities violated the order passed by the High Court on August 3 as per which they were bound to maintain status quo at the site were mass burial of Kuki-Zo community members who lost their lives in the ethnic clash was proposed.The August 3 order was passed in the PIL filed by the very same organization. A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma issued notices to Chief Secretary of Manipur Government, Commissioner (Home) of the Manipur Government, Director General of Police of Manipur, Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur District, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, General Officer Commander in Chief of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, Inspector General of Assam Rifles etc. The Court has also sought response from the Chairman of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum and the Convenor of the Joint Philanthropic Organizations.According to the petitioner, the proposed burial site at S. Boljang of Haolai Khopi village, Churachandpur, is located within a government complex where a sericulture farm operates and they emphasise that the land in question is government-notified and a status quo ante had to maintained at the said spot as per the directives of the court.The petitioner alleged that despite the Court order, the tensions escalated as locals, particularly women, took to the streets to protest and sought access to the intended burial site.Furthermore, the petitioner alleged that despite the claims by Pagin Haokip, (Chairman), Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) about the postponement of the mass burial , a significant mob from Churachandpur and S Kotlien vandalized Meitei houses in Torbung Bangla on August 5, 2023. This mob allegedly employed bulldozers to destroy the area, including the Government Sericulture Farm, in clear defiance of the court's order. It is alleged that such acts took place despite the presence of the police, army and central paramilitary forces.The petitioner claimed that they had obtained drone footage of the location, revealing the destruction of the structures and contended that the Manipur Police, Manipur government, Union government, Army, and the planners of the intended burial had displayed contempt by deliberately disregarding the court's directives.The petitioner submitted that utilizing the Government Sericulture Farm land exclusively for the Kuki-Zo community's mass burial without proper legal authorization is a malicious and improper act. Furthermore, the petitioner emphasised that such actions not only harm their interests but also cast a shadow on the High Court's reputation in the eyes of the general public.In light of these contentions, the petitioner sought the initiation of a contempt proceeding against the respondents under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.The Court will consider the matter next on August 30.Case Title: International Meeteis Forum vs. State Of Manipur

Manipur High Court Issues Notice To Union, State, Army & Assam Rifles Officials On Meitei Group's Contempt Petition

Basit Amin Makhdoomi

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