The Supreme Court on Monday appointed a committee of three former high court judges to look into the ethnic violence cases in the country with a humanitarian aspect. Apart from the investigation, the committee will also keep an eye on reclamation and other issues in cases related to the ethnic violence in conflict-stricken Manipur. The aim of the committee will be much more than just probing incidents of violence. The three-member committee headed by Justice Gita Mittal (Retd.) Chief Justice of J&K High Court along with Justice Shalini P Joshi (Retd.) Judge of Bombay High Court and Justice Asha Menon (Retd.) Judge of Delhi High Court as its members. The Supreme Court also named Ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar to monitor the probe by CBI. 

A three-judge bench led by CJI (Chief Justice of India) D Y Chandrachud said that “Our efforts are to reinstall a feeling of trust in the law & order. We will set up a one-level committee of three former HC judges. This committee will also look at things apart from inquiring – including remedial measures, relief and many more aspects.” 

On August 1, the court said there was an absolute failure of government and law and order in the state. It had slammed the state police for an unpunctual and inactive investigation of incidents of ethnic violence, especially those targeting women, and had summoned the Chief of Police, Manipur to answer its queries on August 7. 

Former Maharashtra Police Chief IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar will administer the CBI investigation. Adding to this, there will be five more officers of at least the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, brought into the CBI from different states. These officers will also operate within the corners of the framework and organisational structure of the CBI.

The court further added “There will be 42 Special Investigation Teams inspecting the matters which are not transferred to the CBI. These teams should be supervised by DIG-ranked officers outside of Manipur. Each officer will monitor six teams to check if the investigation is going thoroughly or not.”