CJI says will consider request for urgent hearing of plea levelling allegations against Manipur CM

Chief Justice of India considers urgent hearing for Kuki organization's plea against Manipur CM inciting violence.

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday (January 28, 2025) said the court may, in case of “extreme urgency”, consider advancing the hearing of a plea made by a Kuki organisation, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, claiming Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was instrumental in inciting and organising violence in the northeastern State which led to the loss of many lives.

The Chief Justice however told Mr. Bhushan, who was making an oral mentioning for an urgent hearing, to first make a written application.

Mr. Bhushan submitted that the petitioner has already complied with a direction from the apex court in the previous hearing, on November 11 last year, to produce audio tapes and any other material to substantiate its claim.

He said the case was listed on February 7, but sought an earlier hearing.

“The petitioner is being hounded,” Mr. Bhushan submitted on behalf of the Kuki Organisation for Human Trust.

“We will examine. Please give a request [for urgent hearing] in writing… In case of an extreme urgency, we will advance [the court hearing],” Chief Justice Khanna responded.

The petitioner has alleged the audio tapes, shared by a whistle-blower, were of telephone conversations held by the CM “establishing complicity of the highest functionary and others in ethnic violence in the State of Manipur”.