The Supreme Court has extended the tenure of the Justice Gita Mittal committee by six months to oversee the relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims of ethnic violence in Manipur.
This decision was made by a Bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra after being informed that the committee’s term had ended on July 15.
“The committee chaired by Justice Gita Mittal stands extended by six months,” the Bench declared.
On August 7 last year, the Supreme Court had established this committee of three former women high court judges to manage the relief, rehabilitation, and compensation for the victims. Additionally, former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar was appointed to monitor the criminal investigations related to the violence.
The committee, led by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, includes former Bombay High Court judge Justice Shalini P Joshi and former Delhi High Court judge Justice Asha Menon. The panel was given the authority to submit its reports directly to the Supreme Court, which is actively monitoring the cases related to the ethnic strife.
The formation of the committee followed the Supreme Court’s strong reaction to a disturbing video showing women being paraded unclothed in the State. Since the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur on May 3, 2023, during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status, over 200 people have been killed, hundreds injured, and thousands displaced.
