Update: 18 March 2025

Six Supreme Court judges will travel to the State of Manipur on March 22 in honor of the High Court of Manipur‘s duodecennial celebration, marking a significant step in bolstering the legal and humanitarian assistance for the state beset by violence.

The special visit will be led by Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, M.M. Sundresh, K.V. Viswanathan, and N. Kotiswar Singh. The National Legal Services Authority‘s Executive Chairman is Justice Gavai. Manipur is the birthplace of Justice N. Kotiswar Singh. The visit’s goal is to highlight the importance of providing impacted communities with legal and humanitarian support.

“Many people are still seeking safety in relief camps spread throughout Manipur, almost two years after the horrific sectarian violence of May 3, 2023, which claimed hundreds of lives and forced over 50,000 people to flee their homes. The Supreme Court judges’ visit emphasizes the continued need for these impacted communities to receive legal and humanitarian support. NALSA.”

During the tour, Justice Gavai will virtually open the new Legal Aid Clinics in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Ukhrul districts, as well as Legal Services Camps and Medical Camps in every district of Manipur. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) will also receive necessary relief supplies as part of this. IDPs will have access to essential services including healthcare, pensions, employment programs, and identification document reconstruction thanks to the Legal Services Camps, which will link them with government assistance programs. At least five major plans designed to meet the needs of the displaced population will be presented by each participating State Department.

All of the aid camps will have Medical Camps run by a group of 25 Chennai-based specialists. For six more days, their services will be available to displaced families, guaranteeing ongoing medical assistance, treatment, and access to necessary medications. Notably, during the ethnic crisis, the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) and NALSA collaborated to help offer legal assistance. In order to help IDPs get government benefits, misplaced paperwork, and medical assistance, MASLSA also set up 273 Special Legal Aid Clinics in relief camps.