HC registers suo-motu PIL on flood, landslide crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 03 2025: The High Court of Manipur has taken suo-motu cognizance of the ongoing flood and landslide crisis affecting several parts of the state since late May and has subsequently initiated a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to monitor the situation.

The PIL, titled "In re: Monitoring of flood and landslide issues in the State of Manipur", and registered as PIL No 15 of 2025, follows a detailed note submitted by the registrar general of the High Court, based on inputs from the member secretary of the Manipur State Legal Services Authority.

A division bench comprising chief justice K Somashekar and justice A Bimol Singh is overseeing the matter.

Notices have been issued to 43 respondents, including the State of Manipur represented by the chief secretary and the Union of India represented by the secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The PIL calls for the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring mechanism to supervise the coordinated efforts of all stakeholders concerned involved in handling the humanitarian crisis.

Emphasising the urgency of timely and effective measures, the Court underscored the constitutional imperative to protect the life and liberty of citizens affected by floods and landslides.

It directed that relief and rehabilitation activities must comprehensively address the critical needs of victims, including food, shelter, clothing, medical aid, accommodation, and compensation and reconstruction packages.

According to the petition, around 19,811 people have been affected by the disaster, with Imphal East and Senapati emerging as the most severely impacted districts in the valley and hill areas, respectively.

The Calamity caused damages to over 3,365 houses and the inundation of key public institutions, including All India Radio, Imphal and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat.

Relief camps have been established to provide temporary shelter to displaced residents, and rescue efforts led by the police, army, paramilitary forces, disaster relief forces, and NGOs have successfully saved more than 800 individuals.

The PIL highlighted the widespread disruption caused by the floods and landslides, displacement of thousands and damage of critical infrastructure across the state, while stressing the need for a coordinated and inclusive response with particular attention to nutrition, healthcare, sanitation, and safe shelter.

The Court called for special care to be extended to vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly, and differently-abled persons.

The High Court has directed all respondents to submit a status report on their relief and rehabilitation efforts by June 9, 2025 .

The Bench also intends to oversee the creation of a monitoring committee to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accountability in addressing the crisis.

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