Manipur violence: SC asks state to provide details on arson, encroachments of properties

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Manipur Government to submit a detailed sealed cover report on the number of properties fully or partially burnt, looted, or encroached upon during the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna emphasised the need for the state to address the grievances of displaced persons and take measures to restore their properties.

It asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Manipur Government, to provide specific details such as buildings burnt or partially burnt, buildings looted, buildings trespassed or encroached upon.

The report should contain information on the owners and current occupants of these properties, along with the details of any legal actions taken against trespassers, the Bench said.

“We also direct the state government to provide the following details: 1. Buildings burnt and partially burnt, 2. buildings which are looted; and (3) the buildings trespassed and encroached upon,” it said.

“In all these, give details of the name and address of the owner as well as the person, if any, in occupation of the property. The report shall also indicate the steps taken by the state government to ensure that the persons who have trespassed are proceeded against as per the law. The said list be given in a sealed cover,” it said.

“You have to take a decision on how you want to deal with it or in terms of criminal action as well as to ask them (encroachers of the properties) to pay mesne profits’ for the use of the occupation” it noted.

Mesne profit is the compensation paid to a rightful owner of a property by a person who is in unlawful possession of it.

Over 200 people have been killed, several hundred injured and thousands displaced since ethnic violence first broke out in the state on May 3, 2023, when a “tribal solidarity march” was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for scheduled tribe status.

It asked the state government to respond to the issue of release of funds for temporary and permanent housing as flagged by the three judges panel headed by Justice Gita Mittal, the former chief justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

Senior advocate Vibha Makhija, appearing for the judges’ panel, said it took several steps with the support of some officials on the rehabilitation, skill-building, and resettlement of the displaced individuals.

Makhija said the committee filed over 34 reports addressing the crisis beginning 2023 and lauded its pro bono efforts.

“Some commendable work has been done by the committee completely pro bono,” Makhija said, “people have been placed in hospitality areas, their skills have been developed, and many have been brought back to reclaim their properties.” The bench directed for the committee’s reports to be shared with the union Home Ministry and the Manipur government to facilitate further remedial actions.

It also directed for the committee’s reports to be shared with the counsel for the parties.

The CJI asked the state government to expedite decisions on criminal actions against trespassers and the recovery of the compensation for unauthorised occupation.

Mehta assured the Bench that the government was prioritising law and order and arms recovery.