New Delhi, Jan 19 (.) The Supreme Court on Monday requested the three-member committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal, to examine allegations of deficiencies in facilities at 14 relief camps sheltering internally displaced persons affected by ethnic violence in Manipur and submit a report within two months.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a challenge to an order of the Manipur High Court, which had declined to entertain a public interest litigation seeking a probe into the living conditions at relief camps located in Churachandpur district.
During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner submitted that the High Court refused to interfere on the ground that the Supreme Court was already seized of the matter.
It was further contended that although the Justice Gita Mittal-led committee was examining various aspects related to the situation in Manipur, the committee was based in New Delhi and had “no easy access” to the ground realities.
The petitioner sought limited relief, urging that the High Court be permitted, within the scope of the committee’s mandate, to examine whether living conditions in the camps complied with the directions issued.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhatti, appearing for Manipur, informed the court that representations had already been submitted to the committee and that the same were under consideration.
Recording the submissions, the bench noted that the High Court had declined to go into the merits of the matter as the Supreme Court was already seized of the issue and had constituted a three-member committee to examine the various concerns.
The court also took note of representations dated July 2025 addressed to the Deputy Registrar and the State of Manipur, highlighting alleged acute deficiencies in food, medical facilities and other basic amenities in the relief camps.
Observing that the petitioner’s representation had already been forwarded to the Justice Mittal Committee, the Bench directed, “We request the three-member committee headed by Justice Gita Mittal to examine the issue of deficiencies in the relief camps and submit a report, as early as possible and preferably within two months.”
. SNG SAS PRS