The fallout from the ethnic violence in Manipur has taken an unexpected turn as at least 38 affected families have declined the government's offered compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased. The Supreme Court-appointed committee, led by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, has sought court directives to prevent civil society organizations from impeding or obstructing the process of compensation acceptance.
Efforts by the district administration to persuade the families have been met with resistance, prompting the panel to petition the court for intervention. The committee's 14th report submitted on October 21 emphasized the need to halt interference from civil society groups that were allegedly influencing families against accepting the ex-gratia payment.
Scheduled for another hearing before a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on December 4, the case highlights the complexity of post-violence humanitarian measures in the region.
Appointed by the Supreme Court, the three-member committee, comprising former Bombay High Court Judge Justice Shalini P Joshi and former Delhi High Court Judge Justice Asha Menon, was tasked with examining the humanitarian dimensions of the ethnic unrest in Manipur.
As per government records, 175 deaths were reported until October 7, with 169 victims identified. However, only 73 of these cases received ex-gratia compensation through direct benefit transfers. The committee noted that 96 cases await verification, while 38 families have declined assistance, citing pressure from civil society organizations such as ITLF, JPO, KIM, among others.
The standoff over compensation refusal underscores the challenges in addressing the aftermath of the tragic violence and calls for immediate resolution to ensure affected families receive the deserved support.
