Centre seeks 3 weeks' time to settle Mao-SAPO conflict
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 06 2023:
The court of chief justice of India justice DY Chandrachud and justice JB Pardiwala of the Supreme Court conducted hearing on the PIL filed by Khuraijam Athouba regarding the ban on entry and movement of Mao community members in Angami inhabited areas in Nagaland by Southern Angami People s Organization (SAPO) and Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) .
Khuraijam Athouba is the convener of Mao-Imphal Market Coordination Committee, Imphal and he filed the PIL on March 13,2023 and the court conducted hearing of the PIL (No 311 of 2023) for the third time on Wednesday.
After hearing submission of the petitioner through the counsel Ngangom Junior Luwang, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta assured the court that the issues/grievances raised by Athouba are being discussed and looked into at the appropriate level and some decision is likely to be arrived at within three weeks.
The Solicitor General also sought three weeks' time and accordingly the court fixed the next hearing of the matter on May 4, 2023 .
Apart from raising specific grievances of the Mao community members, the PIL also raised other important issues of public importance and sought the Supreme Court's appropriate directions to the Central government and the state governments of Nagaland and Manipur.
Athouba sought court's intervention in taking up appropriate steps against all people/organisations responsible for the various acts of violence perpetrated during the ban on entry and movement of Mao tribe members through Southern Angami settlement areas in Nagaland and most specifically, act on the FIR(s) lodged with the concerned police stations in Nagaland.
Apart from demanding necessary relief/compensation to the affected people who have lost assets and business during the blockade, Athouba also demanded declaration of SAPO and SAYO as unlawful associations under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.Athouba also demanded judicial/administrative inquiries into the various lapses on the part of the law enforcement agencies and administrative machinery during the ban on movement and entry of Mao community members through Southern Angami settlement areas.
Athouba also urged the court to direct the Central and state governments concerned to secure national highways in Manipur and Nagaland in particular and the North East in general so that no such ban or blockade is repeated in future.