The Supreme Court on Friday gave nod for the trial of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases connected to the Manipur violence to be conducted in Assam.
SC asked the Gauhati High Court to nominate one or more judicial officers to deal the matters. A series of directions were laid down by the SC inorder to facilitate victims to give their statements via video conferencing from Manipur.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud passed the order. SC was hearing a batch of pleas including a plea by two women from the Kuki-Zomi community who were seen paraded naked in a video and molested by men.
SC also asked the solicitor general to ensure that proper internet facilities are provided in the violence-hit state to allow the video conference.
"So you want the statements to be recorded in Manipur and not in Assam or wherever the victims are... Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court will take care and the entire process will be done virtually... We will not ask the survivor to travel to Assam.. and we will have statements and evidence recorded in Manipur," the Chief Justice was quoted by Bar and Bench.
To the query over why Assam was chosen as the place for trial, Mehta said that it was chosen for better connectivity.
SC asked the Gauhati High Court to nominate one or more officers above the rank of Judicial Magistrate First Class and sessions judge to deal with such trial cases.
All applications for the production of the accused, remand, judicial custody, extension of custody, and other proceedings are allowed to be conducted on online mode, bearing in mind both distance and security issues at the courts that will be designated to conduct the trial, said SC.
Even the arrest warrants will be issued by the investigating officer through the online mode.
The judicial custody of the accused will be done in Manipur.
The Justice Gita Mittal committee was appointed to oversee the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of ethnic violence in Manipur on Monday.
Over 10 cases including the sexual assault of two women were transferred to the CBI.
Since the violence had destroyed many homes, many have lost their official identity cards and the SC had directed the state government collect details and ensure necessary IDs including Aadhaar card are made available to them.
(With PTI inputs)