SC panel report State Govt directed to submit report of 33 cases
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
New Delhi, April 09 2013:
The Supreme Court has today directed the State Government to submit the reports of various Inquiry Commissions on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in 33 cases which have not been made public, including the inquiry report on the killing of Thangjam Manorama.
The directive of the Supreme Court came on the second day of the hearing on the report of the 3 member Inquiry Commission on alleged extra judicial killings in Manipur.
The apex Court also pointed out the need for the National Human Rights Commission to visit Manipur.
Standing by the sanctity of the 3 member Inquiry Commission headed by Justice N Santosh Hegde (former Judge of the Supreme Court) and comprising JM Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner and retired DGP of Karnataka police, Ajay Kumar, the Supreme Court said that it cannot be criticised nor opposed.
The said inquiry report was submitted on April 1 before the Supreme Court.
It may be recalled that the six alleged fake encounters included the killing of Azad Khan, Kumarjit Singh, Nobo Meitei, Gobind Singh, Priyobarta and Umakanta.
The said six cases were selected for inquiry by the Commission out of the 1528 alleged fake encounter cases filed by the Extrajudicial Execution Victim's Association Manipur.
The counsel for the Union Government placed before the Apex court that the report of the Inquiry Commission is under discussion at various high level including the Home Ministry and the Defence Ministry.
The counsel also added that they need some more time to respond.
The Supreme Court has given a time of another 4 weeks for the next hearing.
A separate counsel for the Union Defence Ministry will also appear before the Supreme Court from the next hearing.
On the other hand, the counsel for the petitioner (EEVFAM) today submitted a 20 page petition seeking the constitution of a Special Investigation Team to probe the 33 cases.
Out of the 33 cases, six cases have been studied by the Santosh Hedge led Commission while 12 others have been submitted to the High Court.
The Supreme Court bench comprised of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai.
Significantly Justice Aftab Alam is retiring on April 18 and this was his last sitting.
Babloo Loitongbam of the Human Rights Alert who was present at the hearing today told The Sangai Express that he had expected a "landmark decision / judgment or some sort of an order before his retirement, but this is unfortunate" .