DIMAPUR, APRIL 6 (MExN): The Centre has assured the Supreme Court that it would look into the issues and grievances raised in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with regard to the “ban on entry and movement of Mao community members by Southern Angami community members namely Southern Angami People Organization (SAPO) and Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO).”
It may be noted that the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) lifted the “restriction imposed on Mao Community within its jurisdiction with effect from March 21,” following the advice given by its parent body, the Angami Public Organisation (APO).
Ngangom Junior Luwang, Advocate, the Government of India, through the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta assured the Supreme Court that the issues/grievances raised in the PIL are being discussed and looked into at the appropriate level and some decision is likely to be arrived at within three weeks.
The case is being heard before the Court of Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala. The Solicitor General sought three-week time and accordingly, the Court fixed the next hearing of the matter on May 4.
A press release from the Convenor, Mao Imphal Market Coordination Committee, Imphal, Khuraijam Athouba informed that apart from raising specific grievances of the Mao community members, the PIL has also sought the Supreme Court’s directions to the Central Government and the State Governments of Nagaland and Manipur on several other issues.
The PIL calls for taking appropriate steps against all persons or organizations responsible for the “various acts of violence during the ban on entry and movement of Mao Tribe members through Southern Angami settlement areas in Nagaland and most specifically, act on the FIR(s) lodged with the concerned police stations in Nagaland.”
It also asks for necessary relief/ compensation to affected people, who have lost assets and business during the blockade.
The PIL further called for declaring the Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO) and the Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) as “unlawful associations under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.”
It demanded judicial/administrative inquiries into the various lapses on the part of the law enforcement agencies and administrative machinery during the ban on movement and entry of Mao community members through Southern Angami settlement areas.
The PIL further sought directions from the Central Government and the concerned State Governments to secure national highways in Manipur, Nagaland in particular and the North East in general “so that no such act or blockade is repeated in future.”
