The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the delay in reimbursing members of the three-judge committee constituted to oversee relief and rehabilitation measures in the Manipur violence cases. Consequently, the Court directed the immediate release of funds towards travel, boarding, and lodging expenses.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul Pancholi issued the directions while reviewing the functioning of the committee.
Court Expresses Disappointment Over Non-Payment
At the outset, the Bench noted that authorities had failed to reimburse any travel or boarding expenses incurred by the committee members so far. The Court described the situation as disappointing and, therefore, ordered interim financial support without further delay.
Recording its concern, the Court observed:
“We are disappointed to know that no reimbursement towards their travelling or boarding expenditure has been made so far. We deem it appropriate to direct as an interim measure to release a sum of Rs. 12 lakhs to Justice Gita Mittal and Rs. 10 lakhs each to Justice Shalini Joshi and Asha Menon towards estimated expenditure incurred so far or likely to be incurred in future towards travelling boarding and lodging. As far as the honorarium is concerned we will fix it separately.”
Funds Directed to Be Released
Accordingly, the Court directed the following amounts to be released:
- ₹12 lakh to Justice Gita Mittal
- ₹10 lakh each to Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi and Justice Asha Menon
These amounts will cover travel, boarding, and lodging expenses already incurred or likely to arise in the course of their work. However, the Bench clarified that it will determine the honorarium payable to the committee members separately.
In addition, the Court directed the release of ₹10 lakh to Dattatray Padsalgikar, former Director General of Police, Maharashtra, who currently supervises investigations conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Manipur Police.
The Bench further stated:
“Similarly, sum of Rs. 10 lakh be also released to Mr. Dattatray Padsalgikar, the former Director General of Police, State of Maharashtra.”
Background of the Committee’s Constitution
Earlier, on August 7, 2023, the Supreme Court constituted the three-member committee. The committee includes:
- Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
- Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, former judge of the Bombay High Court
- Justice Asha Menon, former judge of the Delhi High Court
The Court tasked the committee with recommending measures for:
- Providing medical and psychological assistance
- Ensuring dignity and basic facilities in relief camps
- Addressing compensation-related concerns
- Facilitating disbursal of monetary relief through NALSA and SALSA
Supervision of Investigations
On the same day, the Court also appointed Dattatray Padsalgikar to supervise investigations conducted by the CBI and the Manipur Police in cases arising out of the violence.
Specifically, the Court authorised him to:
- Depute officers for the constitution of Special Investigation Teams (SITs)
- Visit relief camps
- Oversee safeguards in cases involving sexual offences
Case Title
The proceedings arise from Dinganglung Gangmei v. Mutum Churamani Meetei.
