Manipur committee seeks reconstruction of lost documents, upgrade in victims compensation scheme

The bench said the Justice Mittal-led committee has filed three reports on issues such as loss of documents and the need for upgrade the Manipur compensation scheme on the lines of the National Legal Services Authority policy.

A Supreme Court-appointed committee has emphasised before the Supreme Court the need for the reconstruction of thousands of essential documents lost during violence in Manipur since May.

After meeting the stakeholders, the committee headed by former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Gita Mittal filed three separate reports in the Supreme Court.

The all-woman committee also comprised Justices Shalini Phansalkar Joshi and Asha Menon.

On August 7, the Supreme Court had constituted the panel of retired High Court judges to consider diverse aspects of humanitarian nature, including measures for relief.

On Monday, a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said it would on Friday issue certain procedural directions to facilitate the work of the committee on several issues, including administrative assistance (office space, etc), funding, necessary publicity by setting up a web portal, and other infrastructural requirements.

After perusing the reports, the bench said, “The first of the three reports submitted by the committee highlights the loss of essential documentation of the residents of Manipur who have been dishoused. The committee suggests the appointment of a nodal officer to take charge of the reconstruction of these documents."

The bench also noted the lost documents included Aadhaar cards, etc.

"The reports submitted by Justice Mittal led committee shows essential documents need to be reissued, the victim compensation scheme needs an upgrade and a nodal administration expert be appointed," the bench said.

The bench said the committee’s second report concerned the Manipur Victim Compensation Scheme (MVCS), which needs to be substantially improved since it has to be in terms of the schemes framed by the National Legal Services Authority.

The committee has pointed out the victim of Manipur violence was not even considered eligible for benefits under MVCS if he or she had received welfare from another scheme.

The court said there is no such bar in other States.

The bench highlighted that the committee reports identified core areas in which work needs to be done in the State, which included rehabilitation against women victims of violence, comprehensive psychological assistance and mental health care, medical care and health, relief camps, and data reporting and monitoring.

The committee also sought help from domain experts for the purpose.