The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a detailed status report on the progress of investigations into sexual violence cases related to the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur. The court also indicated that the responsibility for day-to-day monitoring of the ongoing trials may be handed over to the concerned High Courts to ensure faster and smoother proceedings.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that an effective monitoring system could be created at the state or regional level through coordination between the Manipur High Court and the Gauhati High Court. The Bench noted that since a new Chief Justice has recently taken oath in the Manipur High Court, it may be appropriate for the High Courts to work together to oversee the progress of the trials and related legal processes.
The court asked senior lawyers appearing in the matter to obtain instructions from the concerned authorities and explain why the daily monitoring of the pending cases should not be entrusted to the jurisdictional High Courts. The judges emphasised that strengthening the rule of law and ensuring timely justice for victims should remain the primary objective of the judicial process.
After the outbreak of violence in Manipur in 2023, the Supreme Court had transferred 11 sexual violence cases to the CBI for investigation in order to ensure an independent and fair probe. The trials in these cases are currently being conducted in Assam for security reasons. Victims and witnesses have been allowed to record their statements through video conferencing from Manipur so that they do not have to travel long distances or face safety risks.
During the hearing, senior advocate Vrinda Grover, representing some of the victims, informed the court that an application had already been filed requesting a comprehensive status report from the CBI. She told the Bench that in one of the cases, the victim had passed away in January 2026 and her family had not been informed that a chargesheet had already been filed in the matter. She also raised concerns that in some proceedings the accused were not appearing in court and CBI representatives were also absent, which, according to her, reflected a lack of seriousness in handling the cases.
Responding to the concerns, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, stated that the rights of victims must be fully protected and that the issues raised by the victims’ counsel should be addressed by the investigating agency. He added that the CBI should respond to the concerns either before the Supreme Court or the relevant High Court. The Solicitor General also informed the Bench that the overall law-and-order situation in Manipur had become relatively calm and peaceful, suggesting that the High Courts would be in a better position to monitor local conditions related to the trials.
The Bench observed that proper coordination between the Chief Justices of the Manipur and Gauhati High Courts could help create a “free and fearless environment” for victims and witnesses. The judges stressed that clear arrangements must be made regarding how statements will be recorded and how witness protection measures will be implemented to ensure fair trials.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the Manipur Tribal Forum, requested copies of 27 reports that had been submitted earlier to the Supreme Court by committees dealing with criminal justice and rehabilitation matters. He informed the court that rehabilitation work had slowed down and that prosecution progress remained limited, and said that access to these reports would help affected parties understand the situation better.
However, the Bench noted that some of the reports might contain sensitive material and said that the court would first review them before deciding whether copies could be shared. The judges indicated that the matter required careful handling due to the confidential nature of certain findings and recommendations.
The Supreme Court directed the CBI to file its status report by the next date of hearing and adjourned the matter to February 26 for further consideration. Earlier, the apex court had constituted a committee headed by former Chief Justice Gita Mittal to look into humanitarian issues, including conditions in relief camps, compensation for victims, and rehabilitation measures for those affected by the violence. In addition, former IPS officer Dattatray Padsalgikar was appointed to monitor the investigation process, although no separate Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed.
