Manipur violence: SC asks panel to verify claims of 24,000 families yet to receive rehab benefits

The Supreme Court on Monday asked an apex courtappointed committee to verify claims that around 24000 families affected by the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence are yet to receive benefits under government rehabilitation and welfare schemesThe top court also asked the Manipur and Assam governments and others to consider setting up two special trial courts to exclusively hear CBI and NIA cases respectively arising from the violenceA bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions of lawyers including senior advocate Colin Gonsalves that many affected tribals are yet to get the benefits of rehabilitation and welfare schemesThe bench was hearing the issue of rehabilitation of the people who lost their dwelling units houses and sources of livelihood during the violenceIt took note of the steps taken by the government for rehabilitation of the affected families It noted that funds have been disbursed to more than 4000 beneficiaries out of around 7000 identified beneficiaries for the reconstruction of their housesThe government scheme provides Rs 5 lakh for a kutcha house and Rs 7 lakh for a semipucca or pucca house the court notedMore than 12000 houses have so far been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas YojanaGramin PMAYG for families affected by the violence the bench said while noting the submissions of senior advocate Vibha Dutt Makhija appearing for the Justice Gita Mittal CommitteeThe bench also noted that temporary shelters have been constructed and Rs 5195 crore released for 885 identified beneficiaries for permanent housesIn addition Rs one lakh per household has been provided to families whose houses were completely damaged it saidHowever it was submitted on behalf of some affected families that around 24000 families were yet to receive the benefits as could be verified at the ground level it saidThe bench said it was informed that details of these families had been furnished to the threemember committeeIf that is so we request the committee to verify and confirm the particulars of the alleged affected families and forward a note regarding implementation of the Government welfare schemes duly noticed by this Court in its order dated May 27 2026 the CJI saidThe court also directed that an application concerning properties of affected families be referred to the committee headed by Justice MittalThe committee will verify the particulars and status of the properties and submit a report to the courtOn the issue of damages to the places of worship the bench noted that a list of 276 properties had been furnished and the claims in respect of these properties required verificationA separate list of 20 churches where encroachment has allegedly taken place was also furnished before the court Gonsalves saidThe Justice Gita Mittalled committee will consider the representations and verify the claims on the basis of relevant material and land records the court saidThe authorities concerned shall ensure that there is no further encroachment upon properties found to be covered by the claims it addedThe committee will submit a report in this regard before the top courtEthnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 2023 following a Tribal Solidarity March organised in the hill districts to protest against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the majority Meitei communityMore than 200 people have been killed several hundred injured and thousands displaced since the violence beganThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever