3.5 Collective petition: SC grants Manipur Government four weeks to respond
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 20 2024:
In connection with The 3.5 Collective's petition challenging the acquittal of Lukhosei Zou, former Chairperson of the Moreh Autonomous District Council and others, the Supreme Court of India has granted fours weeks time to the Government of Manipur to file their response to the prayer of the petitioners to be treated as victims of the crime of drug trafficking.
According to a statement issued by The 3.5 Collective, during today's proceedings, the Supreme Court discussed the issue of whether the drug users who have suffered loss due to drug menace would be considered victims of the crime of drug trafficking.
Notably, if they are considered a victim of the crime they will have the right to appeal against the acquittal of drug traffickers even if the Government fails to do so, said the press release issued by The 3.5 Collective.
This issue was discussed today listed in Court no 17, as item no 30 by a bench consisting of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and PB Varale in the Special Leave Petition, (Criminal) number 3010-3011 of 2022 filed by members of The 3.5 Collective challenging the acquittal of Lukhosei Zou and others by the Special NDPS Court as well as the High Court of Manipur's judgment reportedly denying The 3.5 Collective and particularly the members who had "personally suffered due to the prevalence of drug trafficking in the region, ie, recovering addicts and family members of the recovered addicts", to file an appeal against the judgment of the NDPS Court.
The Supreme Court has granted four weeks' time to the Government of Manipur to file their response to the prayer of the petitioners to be treated as victims of the offence of drug trafficking and to file their appeal against the acquittal of Lukhosei Zou and others before the High Court of Manipur.
The case will be listed for hearing in six weeks, said the release issued by The 3.5 Collective.