Manipur Incident| Grossest Of Human Rights Violation: SCAORA & SCBA Condemn Inaction Of State Over Failure Of Administration

The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) have condemned and expressed their concern over the recent Manipur incident captured in a video in which two tribal women were being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in the State of Manipur. The Associations have said that such incidents were gross human rights violations, leading to the loss of several lives.

The SCAORA resolution, dated July 21, read, “Deeply shocked and saddened by the videos which have emerged on social and other media platforms about human rights violations in Manipur, the SCAORA condemns the incident in strongest words. Our collective heads hang in shame against this grossest of human rights violation”.

The SCBA press release, dated July 21, read, “The Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association expresses its deep concern and condemnation including the recent incidents involving women being paraded naked by a group of armed men. Such incident in Manipur which have been taking place since have not only brought suffering among the people of Manipur but also have led to loss of several lives”.

The SCAORA expressed their gratitude regarding the Supreme Court's decision to take suo moto cognizance of the Manipur incidents and for directing the Center and State Government to submit an affidavit highlighting the steps undertaken to bring the perpetrators to justice. The resolution read, “SCAORA is obliged to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India for taking suo moto cognizance of the incidence and asking the Centre and the State Government to inform it of the steps taken to bring the perpetrators into law”.

The SCAORA has also said that such incidences not only reflect the failure of the state machinery in protecting the basic human rights of the citizens but also its failure of administration and controlling riots in the State.

Further, the Association also objected to any illegal FIRs being registered and arrests being made by the Police against the Advocates and Activists who are endeavoring to help the riot struck victims and families.

"SCAORA mirrors the deep concern expressed by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India that "Using women as instrument in an area of communal strife to inflict gender violence is deeply disturbing. This is the grossest of human rights violation," the Association said.

The Association has also offered to provide pro bono legal assistance to any and all the Manipur state riots affected victims.

The SCBA in its press release stated that such gender-based violence and humiliation have a deep impact on the psychological and physical well-being of the victim. The SCBA also criticized the inaction of the State in charging the culprits and tackling the violence in the State, and therefore, call upon the Governments to take immediate action.

“The Executive Committee condemns the inaction of the State Police in bringing the culprits to book for a long period of two months and their inability to generally tackle the debilitating violence in the State of Manipur. We call upon the State Government and the Central Government to immediately take action to punish the perpetrators and prevent other acts of violence in the State which are still continuing”, the press release read. 

Click here to read/download the Resolution & Press Release