The Supreme Court has issued a new set of directions regarding the recording of statements of the victims and witnesses in the cases related to ethnic violence in Manipur. 

The Bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra issued the directions in response to a letter sent by the Manipur High Court seeking clarity in this regard.

The directions issued on Friday pertained to the cases being handled by the Special Investigation Teams in Manipur and not the cases related to sexual violence, which were transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

As per the Apex Court, the statements under Section 164 CrPC would be recorded by the local magistrate designated by the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court.

It said in case the victim/witness was situated outside Manipur, the statement should be recorded by a magistrate having jurisdiction in the area where the victim/witness was located.

The Bench ordered that after recording of the statement, the same should be remitted to the additional magistrate in the state of Assam.

It said the Test Identification Parade would be conducted by the local magistrate in Manipur.

The top court of the country had earlier directed the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to designate courts in Guwahati to handle the pre-trial steps of CBI cases. 

It had granted liberty to the investigating agency to submit applications regarding remand, extension of custody and issuance of warrants online before the designated courts in Guwahati, Assam. 

The victims and witnesses were also granted liberty to give evidence virtually from their places in Manipur, instead of travelling physically to the courts in Assam.

(Case title: Dinganglung Gangmei vs Mutum Churamani Meetei And Ors)

New Delhi (ILNS): The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court today recorded the statements of the victim’s family and officers accused of negligence in the Hathras murder case. Additional Advocate General Vinod Kumar Shahi appeared on behalf of the state government and filed a counter-affidavit to present its stand.  

During the hearing state DGP Hitesh Chandra Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary Home Avnish Kumar Awasthi, and District Magistrate of Hathras, and Superintendent of Police were present, while five family members were present from the victim’s side. 

The division bench of Justice Pankaj Mittal and Justice Rajan Roy, after recording the statements from both the parties has fixed the matter on November 2 for further hearing.

Earlier, the families of the victims were brought to the court premises amid tight security. During this time, a large number of police forces were deployed. After the aggrieved party reached the court, the DGP of the state reached the court premises.

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A huge security force has been deployed in the victim’s village after the victim’s family had declared a threat to her life. The Hathras District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police are also part of the six-vehicle convoy.

The Allahabad High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the case.

-India Legal Bureau