NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed the Committee headed by Justice Gita Mittal to address the individual grievances of 25 displaced students from Manipur University who are seeking permanent transfers to other central universities due to the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. These 25 students, originally from Manipur University, have requested complete transfers to other Central Universities, such as JNU. In November 2023, the Supreme Court had previously considered the plea of 284 students from Manipur University who sought relocation in light of the violence.
The Court had offered three options: a) attend classes at Manipur University online; b) attend Assam University, Silchar; or c) attend North East Hill University, Shillong.
Senior Advocate Meenakshi Arora, representing the 25 students, argued that neither Assam University nor NEHU, Shillong were providing facilities for practicals, which are essential for their science courses. In contrast, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati explained that online classes were being conducted and that both Assam University and NEHU, Shillong had offered practicals, but the students preferred practicals at universities in their current locations, such as Delhi.
A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, instructed the committee led by Justice Gita Mittal to personally review the grievances of the 25 students within a week. The Court permitted the counsel for the petitioners to submit a common note on behalf of all 25 students to the committee. The bench requested the committee to address each grievance and issue necessary directions to the nodal officers where possible. This process is to be completed within one week.
The bench also clarified that if the committee requires any support or further directions from the Court, it should indicate accordingly.
Last year, the Court had directed the Committee to explore better administrative decisions to aid the students, and the Committee is currently addressing various humanitarian aspects of the ethnic violence in Manipur.