New Delhi, September 6 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday called for a status report on recovery of arms, which were allegedly looted during sectarian violence and strife in Manipur, from "all sources".
A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, had, in its judgement on August 7, asked the Centre and Manipur government to formulate and implement a plan to recover any missing arms after taking stock of the number of arms missing or looted from the state’s armouries.
The bench pursued the affidavit filed by the state Chief Secretary refuting the claims that there was shortage of food supplies and an outbreak of chickenpox and measles in the relief camps.
"The Chief Secretary has furnished details of supplies of food and medicine and steps which have been taken to distribute rations in the nine camps. If any further grievance subsists in regard to specific instances, this should be brought to notice of district administration. Any such grievance should be dealt with expeditiously," the apex court noted in its order.
On September 1, the Supreme Court-appointed committee headed by J&K High Court's former Chief Justice Gita Mittal had drawn the attention of the apex court to the fact that there is a blockade in Manipur's Moreh as a result of which food supplies cannot be delivered.
The top court had then directed both the Union and the Manipur governments to ensure that supplies of food, essential medicines and other essential items continue to be distributed in the affected areas so that "no part of the population suffers on account of the existing or apprehending blockades".
It had also sought an affidavit from the Chief Secretary detailing steps taken to ameliorate the situation.
Protects two academicians booked by Manipur Police for
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday shielded two academicians, belonging to the Kuki-Zo community, from any coercive action of the Manipur Police after they were booked for editing a book allegedly twisting the state’s history.
A bench, comprising of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, issued notice and granted an interim protection against arrest for a period of three weeks.
Senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for academicians, sought quashing of the FIR lodged under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 505 (publishing rumour) of the IPC against them.
Professor Jangkhomang Guite from Manipur University and Assistant Professor Thongkholal Haokip from Jawaharlal Nehru University edited the book titled "The Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919", which is authored by Colonel Vijay Chenji (retd).
The FIR was lodged based on the complaint of the Federation of Haomee, an Imphal-based civil society organisation, which claimed that no Anglo-Kuki war had taken place in Manipur and the book incorrectly depicted a Kuki rebellion from 1917 to 1919.
It demanded that the book be banned "for the ends of justice and peace in the country".
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