Churachandpur (Assam), March 22: A five-member delegation of Supreme Court Judges visited a relief camp in Churachandpur, Manipur, on Saturday to engage with the people affected by the ongoing violence. The delegation, led by Justice BR Gavai, arrived earlier in the day in Imphal, Manipur. The team included Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, MM Sundresh, KV Viswanathan, and N Kotishwar.
Justice Gavai, who also serves as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), will inaugurate a series of legal and medical camps virtually across all districts of Manipur. New legal aid clinics will be set up in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Ukhrul districts, offering crucial services to those in need. The delegation is also working to distribute essential relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the ongoing unrest.
The legal services camps are designed to connect IDPs with government welfare programs, ensuring that they have access to vital benefits, including healthcare, pensions, employment schemes, and assistance with reconstructing lost identity documents.
The visit was welcomed by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, who expressed his support for the Supreme Court's decision to send a six-judge delegation to visit the violence-affected areas. "We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court to visit Manipur. In August 2023, the Court noted that there was a complete breakdown of constitutional machinery, but it took the government 18-19 months to impose President’s Rule," Ramesh said. He also criticized the delays in the appointment of a full-time Governor, noting that a distinguished tribal woman was removed and replaced with a retired civil servant.
The violence has severely affected the state, prompting the central government to deploy paramilitary forces to restore order.
