SC admit PIL against SAPO blockade, quit notice
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 13 2023: The Supreme Court of India has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by convenor of Mao-Imphal Market Co-ordination Committee and IPSA vice-president Khuraijam Athouba in connection with the current blockade and quit notice imposed/served by Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) of Nagaland to Mao community of Manipur, and listed the matter for March 20 by treating it as an urgent matter.

Based on the PIL filed under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution, a three-Judge bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Naramsimha and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia asked the Union of India through the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta to look into the issue of the complete ban on settlement, residency, trade & commerce and move ment of the Mao tribe members through the Southern Angami tribe settlement areas in Nagaland and through National Highway No 2 (Asian Highway No 1).It may be noted that Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) and Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) have imposed a ban on settlement, residency, trade & commerce and movement of Mao tribe members through Southern Angami areas in Nagaland since December 15,2022.Since then, various incidents of violence such as burning of vehicles, harassment to Mao people, etc., have been reported.

Southern Angami Tribe members link the blockade and violence to their so-called traditional and tribal rights over the 32.29 square kilometres Koziirii forest and to two-third of the Dzuko valley (11.28 sq km), which are otherwise within the undisputed constitutional boundary of Manipur.

Athouba filed the PIL in February, 2023 through his lawyer, Ngangom Junior Luwang for protection of the inviolable fundamental rights of the Mao tribe people by giving adequate security protection, due compensation to Mao tribe victims of the unlawful acts of SAPO and SAYO and for declaration of these two organisations as unlawful associations under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.After hearing advocate Junior Luwang and Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehata, the apex court listed the matter for March 20, 2023 since the matter is urgent.

The Solicitor General was specifically asked to render all possible assistance.

Though efforts have been made in the past to resolve the issue through tribal bodies, no concrete solution has been achieved till now.

Neither the state of Nagaland nor the Union of India have taken steps to safeguard the basic fundamental rights of the Mao tribe for the past 105 days and it was in such circumstances that it was Considered necessary to approach the highest Court of the country for its intervention for speedy justice.

Most specifically, the embargo on Mao tribe people for access to National Highway No 2 (Asian Highway No 1) has severely affected movement of Mao tribe members and their business, stated a press statement issued by Khuraijam Athouba.

It is expected that the PIL could become a precedent from the point of possible legal ramifications on highway blockades by vested groups and serious inconvenience caused to the public, the statement added.

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