Kuki Rights Body Writes to CJI, Seeks Neutral Benches in Manipur Conflict Cases

Amid the protracted ethnic conflict in Manipur, the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has formally approached the Chief Justice of India, seeking the constitution of independent and impartial benches in the Manipur High Court to hear cases arising from the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

KOHUR alleged imbalance in judge allocation and urged exclusion of Meitei and Kuki judges from sensitive matters

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India, H.S. Benjamin Mate, Chairman of KOHUR, expressed grave concern over what the organisation described as a consistent imbalance in the allocation of judges handling conflict-related cases involving the Kuki community. The communication states that several such cases are currently pending before the Manipur High Court.

Referring to the destruction of property and loss of tribal lives during the ongoing unrest, the organisation said it was compelled to write “with a heavy heart” after observing that judges belonging to the Meitei community are repeatedly assigned to benches adjudicating highly sensitive cases linked to the ethnic conflict.

The letter underscores the principle that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. It argues that continued adjudication of these cases by judges belonging to either of the two conflicting communities risks eroding public confidence in the justice delivery system.

KOHUR has therefore urged the Chief Justice of India to direct that judges who are neither Meitei nor Kuki be assigned to hear conflict-related cases, both at the High Court and subordinate court levels, noting that such judges are available within the judicial system.

The organisation emphasized that its appeal is rooted in lived experiences and perceptions of bias emerging from case after case, and appealed to the highest judicial authority to take its concerns into consideration in the interest of fairness, neutrality, and public trust in the rule of law.

The letter concludes with a request for immediate intervention to ensure impartial adjudication in matters arising from the Manipur conflict, a crisis that continues to test the constitutional promise of equal justice.