MHRC seeks status report on pending murder, rapes cases
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 07 2024:
Observing that 13 rape cases and 24 murder cases have been pending at Porompat police station for investigation, the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has asked Imphal East Superintendent of Police to submit the latest status report over the matter on June 25, 2024 .
The MHRC served the notice on Imphal East SP after taking up an instant complaint case (suo-moto) over the pending investigation of dozens of rape and murder cases at Porompat police Station.
In the order, the MHRC said that they made a surprise visit to Porompat police station in Imphal East as well as City Police Station in Imphal West recently during which Justice UB Saha (Chairperson of MHRC) found about 13 cases relating to offence of rape and 24 cases relating to the offence of murder pending for investigation.
Some other cases were also found pending at Porompat police station.
Saying that every citizen has the right to get justice (social, economic and political) as per the preamble of the Constitution, the MHRC added that the Supreme Court had held that delay of investigation clearly violates the constitutional right, which also guarantees investigation and trial as insisted under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
Both the families of the victims and the accused persons in dozens of cases have been denied a fair trial for a prolonged period, the commission said and added that delaying investigation is nothing but denial of justice.
"It is not clear to us why the investigation of a case lodged by a citizen for murder or rape in 2000 is still pending and for whose fault," the MHRC said.
"Suppose, if the statement under 161 CrPC was not recorded at the relevant time then obviously witnesses will not be in a position to make the statement after two decades," the MHRC continued and added that if the accused was a minor at that time or within the age group of 30 years, he/she will become a senior citizen by this time and if ultimately found that the accused is involved in the matter and convicted then what will be position of his family members and who will compensate the accused if he is acquitted by a trial Court for suffering a long period of time and not getting an opportunity to face trial, if any" .
It further said that the Supreme Court had ruled that speedy investigation is necessary to secure a just and proper outcome in a trial and to instil and maintain confidence in the administration of criminal justice in the country.
"An expeditio s investigation and trial ensures that the trauma of victims/survivors is not prolonged because of the length of the proceeding", the MHRC added.
Asking the SP, Imphal East to submit the latest status report for delay in investigation of the aforesaid FIR cases and the OC of Porompat police station to appear along with the list of cases and a brief status report/note giving the names of the IOs of the FIR cases on June 25, 2024, the MHRC added that the cases in hand indicate that there has been inordinate delay in the investigation on the part of the investigating authorities i.e police authority.
The MHRC has directed the registry concerned to send a copy of this order to the Commissioner (Home), DGP, Manipur by tomorrow and the DGP, Manipur may transmit the same to the DIG Range-I, SP Imphal East District and the OC, Porompat police station for compliance with the order immediately.
"The SP, Imphal East and the OC of Porompat police station shall appear in person on June 25, 2024 before the commission", the Commission directed.
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