In a recent development, the Supreme Court of India declined to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Monday, addressing the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The PIL had sought the Center's intervention to restore law and order in the region, proposing the formation of an expert panel to investigate the root causes of the crisis and recommend solutions. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioners, presented the case before Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The court acknowledged the gravity of the situation and highlighted that a committee chaired by retired Justice Gita Mittal was already examining issues related to the violence in Manipur. The bench suggested that the petitioners approach the existing committee, emphasizing that broad and general reliefs might not be effective at this stage.

Under the PIL filed using Article 32 of the Constitution of India, the petitioners had sought directions for the Union of India to restore law and order in Manipur and establish an expert committee to investigate the root causes of the issue and propose potential remedies. The court underscored its ongoing efforts in addressing petitions related to ethnic violence in Manipur and revealed the formation of a committee comprising three former High Court women judges to assess the situation and suggest corrective measures.

The unrest in Manipur traces back to May, triggered by a High Court order instructing the State Government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes. Since then, more than 170 people have lost their lives, and several hundred others have been injured due to ethnic violence, which initially erupted on May 3 during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The Supreme Court has now directed the petitioners to make representations to the existing Justice Gita Mittal panel, emphasizing the importance of a committee that can bring all communities to the table in resolving the crisis.

Case: YUMLEMBAM SURJIT SINGH vs. UNION OF INDIA, 

W.P.(C) No. 001341 - / 2023.