SC dismisses plea seeking recusal of judges hearing extra-judicial killings in Manipur

Guwahati, November 12, 2018:

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea seeking recusal of judges of a bench hearing extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

The bench included Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice UU Lalit. The court has been hearing the main case seeking a probe into 1,528 cases of extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

Justice Lokur ordered the investigating authorities to investigate without being influenced by any of the observation made by the apex court by its July 20 order.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing on behalf of the Central government, supported the petitioners claiming that the armed forces face complicated situations in areas like Manipur and have to implement multiple methods to deal with situations.

The court ordered registration of FIRs in 81 cases, including 32 probed by a Commission of Inquiry, 32 investigated by judicial authorities, 11 in which compensation was awarded and six probed by a Commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde.