Grossest Constitutional & Human Rights Violation: Apex Court Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Video Of Violence Against Women In Manipur

The Supreme Court today took suo motu cognizance of a recent disturbing incident captured in a viral video shared across media platforms depicting the egregious act of two women of a rival tribe being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur. 

Immediately after the Court presided, the Bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misrsa said "We are very concerned about the way those 2 women were paraded in Manipur". The Chief Justice said, "We want to express our very deep concern as a Court to what's happening. It is time that the Government really steps in and takes action because this is simply unacceptable." The CJI further said "Using women as an instrument in the area of communal strife, this is very disturbing and simply unacceptable to the Court".

Expressing his anguish, CJI Chandrachud remarked "This is grossest of Constitutional and Human Rights violations. We will give a little time to the government to act, else we will take action if nothing is happening on the ground." He also said that "We are conscious of the fact that the video that appeared yesterday is of May, but that makes no difference. It doesn't have to be a video of yesterday."

The Court asked Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who were asked to be present in the Court, "What action has been taken since May to bring the preparators to book and what action has been taken to ensure that this is not repeated because you know it may be isolated or it may not be isolated." The CJI remarked, "In a constitutional democracy this is not acceptable."

The Bench dictated a short order and posted the matter for April 28, 2023. "We will take it up with the Manipur matter," said the CJI. The Bench accordingly dictated the order thus: "The court is deeply disturbed by the visuals which have appeared in the media since yesterday about the perpetration of sexual assault and violence on a woman in Manipur. We are of the view that the Court must be apprised of the steps which have been taken by the government to hold the preparators accountable and also to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. The visuals which appeared in the media will indicate gross constitutional violations and infractions of human rights."

The Bench further noted "Using women as an instrument in violence in the charged atmosphere is simply unacceptable in the constitutional democracy. We direct both the Union Government and the State Government to take immediate steps and to apprise the Court of what action has been taken." 

"We completely share the concern of your lordship, this is completely unacceptable" submitted SG Mehta. The Court will consider the matter on next Friday.

"I assure the nation, no guilty will be spared. The law will take its course with all its might. What has happened to daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said earlier in the day while asking Chief Ministers of states to maintain law and order.