No response filed with SC: 3.5 Collective
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 10 2024:
The State Government has failed to file its response to the Supreme Court on the petition challenging acquittal of Lukhosei Zou, former Chairperson of the Chandel Autonomous District Council and others by the Special NDPS Court and the refusal of the High Court of Manipur to entertain a plea, said the 3.5 Collective, in a statement today.
Notably, the Supreme Court, had on February 20, granted four weeks time to the Government of Manipur to file their response and explain why people who suffer loss due to drug menace should not be considered as victims of drug trafficking and give them the right to appeal against acquittal of drug traffickers.
"The matter came up today before the Supreme Court in Court no 17, as item no 42 before the division bench consisting of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and PB Varale in the Special Leave Petition, (Criminal) number 3010-3611 of 2022 (SLP) filed by member of the 3.5 Collective challenging the acquittal of Lukhosai Zou and others by the Special NDPS Court as well as the High Court of Manipur's judgment denying the Collective and particularly the members who had personally suffered due to the prevalence of drug trafficking in the region to file an appeal against the judgment of the NDPS Court," it added.
Maibam Jogesh, co-convenor of The 3.5 Collective, who is also petitioner of the SLP filed an affidavit to the Court detailing how he started using substance at an early age, struggled against drug menace and how he is helping the Government of Manipur formulate a drug policy, it added.
His affidavit also highlighted the suffering of his co-petitioner Ramthing Hungyo, whose native place, Kamjong, has become a safe place for cross-border drug trafficking, it said and appealed to the Government of Manipur to send its response to the Supreme Court as soon as possible.