The Indian Supreme Court on Wednesday disapproved of the Manipur High Court’s decision to curtail hospital treatment for a prisoner belonging to the minority Kuki community. This decision was made in light of the ongoing ethnic clashes in the state. The Supreme Court highlighted its concerns by stating, “We do not trust the state…The accused was not taken to hospital because he is from the Kuki community. So sad! We direct him to be examined now. If the medical report reveals something serious, we will take you to task” (Supreme Court Order).
The petitioner, Lunkhongjam Haokip, was arrested in October 2022 for possessing two kilograms of brown sugar. He suffers from ailments such as piles, tuberculosis, and chronic tonsillitis, and has complained of severe back and abdominal pain. The Manipur High Court had earlier rejected his plea for hospital treatment, citing the law and order situation and potential danger in transferring him due to the ongoing ethnic tensions (Ethnic Violence in Manipur).
In response, the Supreme Court directed the Jail Superintendent and the responsible authorities to arrange for Haokip’s examination at Guwahati Medical College immediately, with all expenses to be borne by the state of Manipur (Supreme Court Oversight).
The ethnic violence in Manipur commenced on May 3, 2023, triggered by the state’s High Court’s decision to include the Meitis community in the “Scheduled Tribes” list, which was contested by the Kuki tribe. This has led to significant unrest between the hill-dwelling Kukis and the valley-dwelling Meitis, impacting even judicial decisions and the administration of justice within the state (Full Article).