New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Manipur and Assam governments and others to consider setting up two special trial courts to exclusively hear CBI and NIA cases arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
What Happened
“As regards the safety and security situation in Manipur, joint action by the Manipur Police and security forces has strengthened the process of recovery of arms and ammunition, as well as arrests. With respect to the law-and-order situation, the CBI and NIA shall be facilitated so that they are able to carry out their investigation uninterruptedly,” it said.
The bench also directed the registrar general of the high court concerned to submit a status report on the issue before the next date of hearing.
People Involved
Ms. Bhati said cognisance was already taken in 20 of the 22 chargesheeted cases. The law officer said only one of the 22 cases was triable by a Magistrate, while the remaining involved serious offences to be tried by a Sessions court.
Investigation and Response
During the hearing, the bench was informed by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that the CBI has investigated 31 cases, with final reports filed in 27, including 22 chargesheets and five closure reports. The Supreme Court on Monday (August 10, 2026) proposed Special Courts to exclusively hear Manipur ethnic violence cases investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made a request to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to constitute Special Courts, separately to hear CBI and NIA cases linked to the 2023 Manipur violence on a day-to-day basis. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati submitted from the latest status report that out of the 31 cases investigated by the CBI, final reports were filed in 27, including 22 charge sheets and five closure reports. The ASG said NIA had investigated a total 30 cases, of which chargesheets were filed in 15 while the remaining 15 were still under investigation. Gonsalves, saying a mechanism for investigation and trial had already been spelt out by the Supreme Court, which has been hearing the Manipur violence cases since 2023.
“The authorities shall consider setting up two separate exclusive courts, one for dealing with the CBI cases and another for dealing with the NIA cases arising out of the Manipur violence. The court sought a status report on this aspect by the next date of hearing. Four cases remain under investigation. “Having regard to the total number of witnesses proposed to be examined, we request the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to consider the feasibility of allowing the CBI/NIA court to exclusively deal with Manipur-related cases. Ms. Bhati objected to submissions made by Mr.
“The request is that particulars of those cases, including the relevant case numbers and status of the proceedings, be made available so that the legal counsel as well as the families concerned have access to the reports and proceedings.
The CJI said the bench had devised a mechanism for monitoring the investigation and also issued directions regarding reports concerning such probes. We accept the request and direct that the relevant particulars and reports be compiled and placed before the court,” the bench said. “The 15 charge-sheeted cases are ripe for trial despite further investigation continuing, and charges have been framed in seven of them,” she said. Earlier hearings had seen the apex court insist on status reports on the investigation detailing evidence to “bring home the guilt” of persons accused of various heinous offences, including the sexual assault and gangrape of women during the sectarian violence that rocked the northeastern State. Other cases be transferred to some other court,” the Court said.
The registrar general of the high court shall submit a status report in this regard before the next date of hearing,” the bench ordered. The Supreme Court had previously transferred the CBI cases from Manipur to Gauhati.
