The Supreme Court stepped in on Monday to address the plight of 284 students affected by ethnic violence in Manipur. These students, scattered across the country, faced disruptions to their education due to the unrest in the state. The Manipur University EIMI Welfare Society filed a plea on their behalf, seeking relocation to other central universities to ensure continuity in their studies, as reported by PTI.
In a significant move, the apex court presented three options to the distressed students. Firstly, they could opt for online classes at Manipur University. Alternatively, they were given the choice to enroll at Assam University in Silchar or North East Hill University in Shillong. The bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the urgency of the situation and directed the posting of a nodal officer's name, appointed by Manipur University, on its website. This officer would be responsible for facilitating the relocation of interested students within a two-week timeframe.
Assuring the students, the court announced that the matter would be taken up by a committee of three former women high court judges, headed by Justice Gita Mittal. This committee would explore additional options for the students, and an order based on their recommendations would be issued. The court highlighted that the current options were interim measures, and a more comprehensive solution was under consideration.
The petitioners had initially sought the court's intervention to allow them to continue their studies at other central universities in the country. The court's order granted students the flexibility to choose online classes or relocation to Assam University or North Eastern Hill University. The nodal officer appointed by Manipur University was tasked with ensuring a smooth admission and relocation process.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and Manipur University, emphasized that the interim order did not imply a permanent move for the students. The court had earlier issued notices to the Centre and the Manipur government on November 28, urging them to address the grievances of the 284 students seeking relocation.
The backdrop of the students' predicament is Manipur's descent into chaos and violence in May, triggered by a high court order directing the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes. The ethnic violence has resulted in over 170 casualties and numerous injuries, with tensions escalating since the Tribal Solidarity March in early May.
