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Synopsis

CJI DY Chandrachud today expressed deep concern over a video making the rounds wherein two women were seen paraded around naked in Manipur.

"It is very very deeply disturbing. Please tell us what action has been taken to make the perpetrators pay and to make sure that such actions are not repeated. Using women as an instrument during a communal strife..grossest of constitutional abuse..", CJI remarked.

The bench also comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra went on to direct the Centre and State government to apprise it of the steps taken against such perpetrators of violence.

"If the government does not take action, we will have to step in..", further remarked a visibly upset CJI.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta shared the deep concern expressed by the CJI and said, "The government is also seriously concerned by the incident."

He added unequivocally that such incidents were completely unacceptable and assured the court that the Government has initiated immediate steps to bring the perpetrators to book after the video surfaced and the outcome will be placed before the court.

The court has now listed the matter for next Friday, July 28.

It is to be noted that last week, the Supreme Court had refused to issue directions to the Indian Army for providing security in tribal areas in Manipur.

A CJI DY Chandrachud led bench refused to act on the suggestion made by Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves in this regard.

"We cannot breach the hallmark of Indian democracy which is civilian control over the army...", CJI had said.

The bench had added that maintenance of law and order fell within the domain of the elected government and it would be inappropriate for the Court to issue directives to the Army. Court accordingly directed the State and Central governments to ensure protection of life and liberty of citizens in Manipur.

Recently, the Manipur government had told the Supreme Court that it is putting best effort in safeguarding rights and security of all inhabitants irrespective of caste, creed, religion and tribe or community.

In an updated status, the state government sought permission from the court for taking its own recourse to take up possible steps to bring normalcy in the state after exercising due diligence and without interference in terms of legal, security, political intervention, dialogue, rehabilitation, resettlement, compensation, etc. 

Amidst tensions escalating in the State of Manipur, two Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) were filed before the Supreme Court last month against the High Court's order directing the Centre and the State governments to include the Meetei/Meitei community of the State in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Indian Constitution as a "tribe" of Manipur.

The Supreme Court had then asked the State of Manipur to make due arrangements in the relief camps organised by the government and all necessary precautions must be taken for rehabilitation of displaced persons.

State of Manipur had also informed the Supreme Court that the situation in the state was improving by slowly.