Manipur violence: SC transfers CBI cases to Assam, asks Gauhati HC CJI to nominate trial judges

livemint.com:

The Supreme Court on 25 August has transfered CBI cases pertaining to Manipur violence to Assam and also asked the Gauhati High Court to nominate one or more judicial officers to deal with the matters A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said judicial procedures related to production of accused, remand, judicial custody and its extension will be conducted online at a designated court in Gauhati. Judicial custody of the accused, if and when granted, will be done in Manipur to obviate transit, it said as reported by PTI.

Moreover, the bench also permitted persons, including victims, witnesses and others related to CBI cases, to appear physically before the designated Gauhati court if they don't want to appear online. The top court directed the Manipur government to provide proper internet services to facilitate hearing in CBI cases through online mode at the Gauhati court.

The court also ordered that statement of witnesses under 164 CrPC are to be recorded in the presence of local Magistrate in Manipur and directed Acting Chief Justice of Manipur High Court to designate one or more magistrates for recording of statements of witnesses. On August 21, the top court had appointed the Justice Gita Mittal committee to oversee relief and rehabilitation of the victims of ethnic violence in Manipur.

Over 10 cases, including the one related to sexual assault of two women whose video had gone viral on social media, were transferred to the CBI. Noting that many Manipur residents may have lost their identity documents in the ethnic strife, the Supreme Court-appointed panel has urged the top court to pass a slew of directions to the state government and others, including the UIDAI, to ensure Aadhaar cards are made available