A brewing legal dispute over a proposed burial site has taken a new turn as the Manipur High Court issues notice to key government officials, including Union and State authorities, the Army, and the Assam Rifles, in response to a contempt petition. The International Meeteis Forum (IMF) has alleged that the authorities violated the court's order to maintain the status quo at the site designated for the mass burial of Kuki-Zo community members who lost their lives in an ethnic clash.
The August 3 court order, passed in response to a PIL filed by the same IMF, directed the preservation of the proposed burial site's status quo. However, tensions escalated despite the order, leading to protests and violence. The IMF's contempt petition alleges that a mob from Churachandpur vandalized and destroyed government structures at the intended burial site, defying the court's directive.
The Manipur High Court has taken this matter seriously, issuing notices to high-ranking officials, including the Chief Secretary of the Manipur Government, Director General of Police of Manipur, and senior Army and Assam Rifles personnel. The court is also seeking responses from Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum and Joint Philanthropic Organizations representatives.
The proposed burial site is located within a government complex where a sericulture farm operates. The IMF asserts that the land is government-notified and insists that the status quo ante should have been maintained according to the court's directives.
The dispute has raised broader questions about land use, community sentiments, and legal oversight. The petitioners argue that the destruction of structures and defiance of the court's order constitutes contempt of court and undermines the judicial process.
The Manipur High Court is set to further deliberate on the matter on August 30.
Source: Link
Picture Source : https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202307/manipur_clashes-sixteen_nine_0-sixteen_nine.jpg?VersionId=C.4xEzc3zjKB.WKUF2bqx3ZAe1jNcQFO&size=690:388
