The Supreme Court on Tuesday took note of delays in the appointment of legal aid counsel for victims in a batch of criminal matters arising out of Manipur violence cases, some of which have been transferred to Assam for trial.

During the hearing, the Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was informed that despite an earlier direction dated February 26, legal aid counsel had not yet been appointed, creating difficulties in coordinating with victims, particularly in filing vakalatnamas and responses.

Counsel appearing for the victims pointed out that the affected individuals primarily speak Manipuri and face challenges in communication without locally conversant legal assistance. The Court had earlier directed that counsel familiar with local languages and dialects be appointed in coordination between the Manipur and Assam Legal Services Authorities.

Responding to the concern, it was submitted that both the Manipur State Legal Services Authority and the Assam Legal Services Authority are in the process of appointing appropriate counsel, and that there are no financial constraints, including for travel from Manipur to Guwahati.

The Bench emphasised that its earlier order applied across multiple transferred cases and was intended to ensure effective representation of victims, particularly in proceedings now being conducted outside Manipur. The Court also acknowledged the need for counsel who understands the local language.

In the course of the hearing, the Court dealt with multiple connected matters, including bail and cancellation proceedings, and indicated that procedural timelines would be fixed after ensuring proper representation.

Also Read- https://thebarbulletin.com/supreme-court-seeks-cbi-reply-manipur-violence-bail-plea/

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