The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Meitei Christian Churches Council of Manipur (MCCCM) to approach the committee of retired High Court judges regarding restoration of Churches, which were damaged during the ethnic violence in Manipur.
The Bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told the Counsel appearing for MCCCM to serve a copy of the petition to the state government as well as to the judges’ committee.
Appearing for MCCCM, Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi contended that neither the Centre, nor the State government did anything to prevent the destruction of 240 Churches belonging to the Meitei Christians in Manipur during the communal clashes.
He alleged that the Church properties and its grounds were being used for other purposes. In most cases, the title documents etc were looted or torched along with the Church properties and the petitioners no longer have any documentary evidence in their possession, noted the Senior Counsel.
He said if the conversion of Church properties for use of other communities was not stopped immediately, the petitioners may not be in a position to retrieve them at all.
Ahmadi sought immediate action against further desecration of Church properties and their preservation.
He further sought permission for Meitei Chirstians to congregate and pray at the Church properties under police protection.
The petition alleged that help was never extended to the Churches, despite the state authorities coming up with several schemes for rehabilitation and compensation.
It pointed out that even the directions passed by the Supreme Court to provide relief and restoration for destroyed places of worship were not complied with by the Manipur government.
As per MCCCM, it had even written to the Governor of Manipur, bringing to his notice the rampant looting and destruction of Church property, seeking his immediate intervention. However, no response was received.
The petitioner said it also made representation to the Union Home Minister, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Chief Minister of Manipur, highlighting the destruction of 240 Churches from various districts and seeking enquiry into the cause of destruction, but still no response was provided regarding the same.