High Court directs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2019: The High Court of Manipur has directed the Home Department (Manipur) to take up necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of one Maibam Sanjoy and his family members when they return to their residence at Kachikhul Mayai Leikai Tangjing Khullen (after they were banished from the area by the locals), cautioning that failure to obey its order by the Government will invite a contempt proceeding.

The direction was given in connection with a judgment order passed by Justice Kh Nobin concerning a petition filed by Maibam Sanjoy and his family members (with the State of Manipur through Secretary Home, DC Imphal West, SP Imphal West as respondents) .

In the petition, Maibam Sanjoy explained that he and his family members belong to the Meitei community but they follow Christianity and as they resided in the Meitei Hindu dominated area at Kachikhul Mayai Leikai, Thangjing Khullen ( Imphal West) relations with the villagers became strained.

On July 1, 2017, without any prior notice, a meeting was called by the local club (including Meira Paibies) in collusion with Kachikhul Village Development Committee, wherein it was resolved to expel the family members of the petitioner on some charges.

Upon hearing about the resolution by the local bodies.

Sanjoy submitted an application to the OC of Patsoi PS seeking protection but no action was taken by police and on the next day, on July 2 (at around 7 pm), some 50 villagers carrying sticks, knives, swords and kerosene bottles came and forcibly entered Sanjoy's house and began assaulting the family members, the petition alleged adding that the locals also threatened to burn down the house and to kill them if they refused to leave the area.

Fearing for their lives and personnel safety, the petitioner and his family members left their house within a short time leaving all their valuable items and belonging behind, it added.

The petition continued that Sanjoy and his family stayed in a rented house following the incident and on July 5, Sanjoy's father returned to the village and took shelter at their house but he was thrashed and expelled from the village which forced Sanjoy to file a writ petition before the Court.

After going through the petition and all the submissions of the concerned parties, the Court directed the petitioner Sanjoy to intimate the police station concerned regarding the date/day on which they would like to return back to their village.

The Court then directed the State Government, in particular SP of Imphal West, to take proper precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the petitioner and his family members when they return to their home so that no untoward incidents take place.

Directing the State Government to strictly implement the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in Tehseen S Poonawalla Case on July 17 last year, the Court warned that failure to comply with its directive by the State Government will invite a contempt proceeding by the Supreme Court.

The Court further directed the Home Department, to get in touch with the Law Department to do the needful.

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