Imphal, Sept 17: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Manipur Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report on 25 alleged unnatural deaths recorded among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in relief camps, including a case involving an alleged sexual assault, and sought explanation for limited post‑mortem examinations and low compensation paid to families.
Bench seeks post‑mortems and remedial measures
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana directed the state government to place before the court the post‑mortem reports and all material indicating cause of death in the 25 cases. The order came while the court was hearing petitions concerning investigation and trial of sexual violence arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
"Tell your Chief Secretary not to invite orders. Tell us what measures you have taken,"
The bench also asked the state to set out steps taken to ensure the safety and dignity of displaced persons living in relief camps, and to provide details on measures for adequate medical facilities and essential day‑to‑day necessities.
Committee report flagged larger mortality and gaps
The directions followed consideration of a report submitted by the committee headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, which is monitoring relief and rehabilitation for victims of the 2023 violence. The committee reported concerns over the 25 alleged unnatural deaths and noted a wider figure of 640 deaths in relief camps across eight districts.
The court questioned why post‑mortem examinations were reportedly conducted in only 20 of the 25 cases and why compensation in these instances had been limited to just ₹20,000–₹30,000.
State counsel responds; Legal Services Authority asked to act
The Manipur Advocate General and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the state, told the court that delay in furnishing certain information may have been linked to the recent appointment of a new Chief Secretary; she said she would convey the court's concerns to the administration.
The bench directed the Manipur State Legal Services Authority to immediately examine the issue and ensure registration of FIRs in all cases involving alleged unnatural deaths. It asked the authority to ensure proper determination of causes of death, expeditious investigation of such cases and appropriate measures for protection of displaced persons and victims.
What the court asked the state to include
- Complete details and post‑mortem reports for all 25 alleged unnatural deaths.
- Explanation for why post‑mortems were conducted in only 20 of those cases.
- Rationale for compensation amounts of ₹20,000–₹30,000 paid to families in the referred cases.
- Remedial steps to ensure safety, dignity, medical care and daily necessities for IDPs in relief camps.
- Actions taken to register criminal cases and investigate causes of death expeditiously.
Data at a glance
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Alleged unnatural deaths identified for detailed report | 25 |
| Total deaths in relief camps cited by committee | 640 |
| Post‑mortems reportedly conducted | 20 |
| Compensation reportedly paid to families (per case) | ₹20,000–₹30,000 |
Implications and next steps
The Supreme Court’s order places a spotlight on accountability of the state administration and on the investigation process for deaths occurring in relief camps set up after the ethnic violence in 2023. By asking the State to provide post‑mortem material and other corroborative documents, the court has signalled the need for clear medical and forensic records to determine cause of death in each instance.
The direction to the State Legal Services Authority to ensure FIRs are registered in all relevant cases is intended to prompt criminal investigations where warranted. The court has also underlined the humanitarian dimension by seeking details of measures to safeguard the dignity, safety and health of displaced persons still housed in relief facilities.
The Chief Secretary of Manipur has been asked to file the comprehensive report; the court will take further action after perusing the material. The hearing was part of ongoing judicial scrutiny of the handling of sexual violence cases and broader relief and rehabilitation measures following the 2023 unrest.
