New Delhi
In the major development, the Supreme Court on Friday said the trial in the Manipur violence cases being probed by the CBI will take place in neighbouring Assam and asked the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to nominate one or more judicial officers conversant with one or more languages spoken in Manipur to deal with the matters.
Over 10 cases, including the one related to sexual assault of two women whose video had gone viral on social media, were transferred to the CBI. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said judicial procedures related to production of accused, remand, judicial custody and its extension will be conducted online at a designated court in Gauhati.
Judicial custody of the accused, if and when granted, will be done in Manipur to obviate transit, it said even as it permitted persons, including victims, witnesses and others related to CBI cases, to appear physically before the designated Gauhati court if they don’t want to appear online.
The Supreme Court said that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has ensured that proper internet facilities shall be provided from Manipur for video conferencing and its directions shall not preclude those who wish to appear physically in Guwahati.
The SC further ordered that statement of witnesses under 164 CrPC are to be recorded in the presence of local Magistrate in Manipur. Supreme Court directs Acting Chief Justice of Manipur High Court to designate one or more magistrates for recording of statements of witnesses.
The apex court said that the test identification parades to be done through video conferencing mode in presence of a Manipur based magistrate. The applications seeking search and arrest warrant will be issued by the investigating officer by the online mode, the court said.
The top court had, on August 21, appointed the 3-member Justice Gita Mittal committee to oversee relief and rehabilitation of the victims of ethnic violence in Manipur.
