1. The Supreme Court rejected a plea for voting facilities for 18,000 internally displaced people in Manipur.
2. Manipur’s Lok Sabha elections on April 19 and 26 prompted the urgency of the plea.
3. The plea sought to enable displaced individuals to cast their votes in the upcoming elections.
Imphal, April 15: The Supreme Court declined a plea seeking voting facilities for approximately 18,000 internally displaced individuals in Manipur ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Scheduled for April 19 and 26, the polling for Manipur’s two Lok Sabha seats prompted the plea’s urgency. However, the court cited the timing of the plea as a hindrance to intervention.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed reluctance to interfere at this late stage, highlighting the potential disruptions to the election process.
The plea, brought by Manipur resident Naulak Khamsuanthang and others, urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to facilitate voting for internally displaced persons settled outside Manipur.
Specifically, it requested the establishment of special polling booths in their respective states of residence.
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The petition emphasized the predicament of 18,000 internally displaced individuals who wished to participate in the Manipur elections.
Manipur has grappled with a series of violent episodes since May 2023, stemming from ethnic tensions. The initial outbreak occurred during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organized in protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Over 160 fatalities and numerous injuries have been recorded since the violence erupted, prompting many to seek refuge in relief camps, far removed from their homes.
Despite a gradual decrease in the frequency and severity of violent incidents, the aftermath of the turmoil continues to impact communities across Manipur.
