With the CBI having filed chargesheets in 22 cases and the NIA in 15, the court stressed the need to prevent the large number of witnesses and complex proceedings from causing prolonged delays.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi | August 11, 2026: The Supreme Court has asked the Assam government to examine the possibility of setting up two dedicated special courts to speed up trials arising from the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in 2023, particularly cases being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana made the suggestion while reviewing the latest status of investigations and pre-trial proceedings in cases stemming from the prolonged violence.
The bench also asked the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to consider measures for expediting the trials and directed the Registrar General of the High Court to place a status report on the proposal before the next hearing.
The court’s intervention comes against the backdrop of a large number of pending cases and witnesses who are yet to be examined. The bench observed that the volume of evidence and witnesses could place a considerable burden on regular courts, making dedicated courts a potentially more effective way of ensuring that the proceedings do not become unduly prolonged.
CBI files chargesheets in 22 cases
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, updated the bench on the progress of the investigations.
According to the status report, the CBI has submitted final reports in 27 cases. Chargesheets have been filed in 22 of these cases, while five have resulted in closure reports.
Trial courts have taken cognisance in 20 of the 22 chargesheeted cases, allowing proceedings to move into the trial stage.
The figures indicate that a substantial part of the CBI’s investigative work has progressed, although the completion of investigations does not automatically translate into speedy trials. The examination of witnesses, presentation of documentary evidence and other pre-trial procedures can take considerable time, particularly in cases involving large numbers of victims and witnesses.
NIA continues investigations in remaining cases
The NIA has been handling 30 cases related to the Manipur violence.
Bhati told the court that the agency has filed chargesheets in 15 cases, while investigations in the remaining matters are still underway.
The Supreme Court emphasised that investigations by both central agencies must continue without interruption despite the continuing sensitivity of the law-and-order situation in Manipur.
The direction underscores the court’s concern that the exceptional circumstances surrounding the violence should not become an impediment to completing investigations or bringing cases to trial.
SIT report on attacks on security personnel
The bench also considered a separate status report submitted by a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team headed by former Maharashtra Director General of Police Dattatrey Padsalgikar.
The SIT report dealt, among other matters, with attacks on CRPF personnel during the violence in Manipur.
The court has been closely monitoring the investigation and prosecution of cases arising from the conflict since 2023, when ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities erupted across the state.
The violence resulted in widespread deaths, injuries and displacement, while thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.
Victims seek access to case documents
During the hearing, senior advocate Vrinda Grover raised concerns about victims and their families allegedly being unable to obtain copies of important documents, including status reports and chargesheets.
Grover told the bench that such documents had not been made available despite earlier directions from the Supreme Court.
Access to these documents is particularly important for victims in prolonged criminal proceedings, as they allow affected families to understand the status of investigations and the allegations being pursued before the courts.
Bhati, in response, pointed out that the Supreme Court has been monitoring the matter since 2023 and has already established mechanisms for overseeing the investigations. She also referred to a committee constituted by the court to deal with other issues arising from the violence.
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Why dedicated courts matter
The proposal for dedicated courts reflects a broader concern over the sheer scale and complexity of the Manipur cases.
Ordinary criminal courts already carry substantial caseloads. Cases arising from the 2023 violence, however, involve multiple locations, large numbers of witnesses, extensive documentary and forensic evidence and allegations involving killings, sexual violence, arson, conspiracy and attacks on security personnel.
A dedicated judicial mechanism could allow the cases to be listed more frequently and reduce the delays that can occur when major trials compete for court time with routine criminal matters.
The proposal, however, remains at the examination stage. The Assam government and the Gauhati High Court will have to assess the administrative and judicial requirements before any such arrangement can be implemented.
For the Supreme Court, the immediate priority is clear: investigations must be completed, victims must have meaningful access to the proceedings, and trials must move forward without being indefinitely delayed.
With the violence having displaced thousands of people and left deep divisions within Manipur, the eventual outcome of the criminal cases is likely to remain an important part of the broader effort to establish accountability for the events of 2023.
