New Delhi. The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the state government on a case related to Manipur. While hearing a case related to the Kuki community, the Supreme Court bench said that it no longer trusts the Manipur government. The Supreme Court on Wednesday took strong cognizance of the case of an undertrial prisoner lodged in a Manipur jail not being taken to the hospital for treatment just because he belonged to the minority Kuki community and said that it does not trust the state (government).
While hearing the petition of Lunkhongam Haokip, a bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan made strong comments against the Manipur government. The petitioner says that he has piles and TB and has severe back pain. Despite this, the jail authorities did not take him to the hospital. The Supreme Court bench said, ‘We do not trust the state. The accused was not taken to the hospital just because he belongs to the Kuki community. Very sad. We direct that his medical test be done right now. If something serious comes out in the medical report, we will take you to task.’
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Serious allegations against jail officer
Undertrial Haokip’s lawyer claimed that the jail authorities did not pay heed to repeated requests for medical help. The Supreme Court bench noted the order of the Manipur High Court and found that the undertrial was not taken to the hospital because he belonged to the Kuki community and taking him to the hospital would be dangerous considering the law and order situation. Manipur is in the grip of ethnic conflict between the minority Kuki and majority Meitei communities.
Report sought by July 15
The Supreme Court directed the jail superintendent and state authorities to make necessary arrangements to take him (Lunkhongam Haokip) to Guwahati Medical College and get him examined there. Medical examination should be done for piles, TB, tonsils, stomach pain as well as lower back problems. The court has sought a detailed medical report on or before July 15 and directed the state government to bear the entire cost including medical expenses. Manipur was gripped by anarchy and violence in May last year after the High Court order directed the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of notified tribes.
Tags: violence in Manipur, National News, Supreme Court
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 3, 2024, 19:31 IST