“We Do Not Trust You”: Supreme Court Slams Manipur Government For Denying Medical Aid To Kuki Undertrial
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court lambasted the Manipur government for denying necessary medical aid to an undertrial at the Manipur Central Jail because he belonged to the Kuki community.
Expressing its distrust over the BJP state government, the top court said, “Sorry counsel, we do not trust the state. We do not. The accused was not taken to the hospital because he is from the Kuki community? So sad. We direct him to be examined now.”
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The top court warned that it would take the state government to task if the medical report from Gauhati Medical College turned out to be serious.
Filed by Lunkhongam Haokip, the accused in the case, a vacation bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan heard the plea. The bench found that the accused was not taken out for medical examination at the hospital “since he was from Kuki community and that shifting him to the hospital will be hazardous taking into account the law-and-order situation,” as per the bail order passed by the High Court.
The bench issued an order for the state government to take Haokip immediately to the hospital for a medical checkup. Haokip sought medical examinations for tuberculosis, piles, and other ailments. Additionally, the accused was found to have tenderness in the lower lumbar spine, facilities for which are unavailable at the Manipur Central Jail.
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Haokip’s lawyer told the court that the jail authorities had refused to pay attention to the multiple requests seeking medical help.
The apex court sought a report on Haokip’s medical status before July 15, the next date of hearing, and told the state government to pay for the medical expenses.
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence between the Meitei people and the Kuki-Zo tribal community since March of last year. Over 220 people have been killed, with over 60,000 displaced. Despite repeated appeals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to visit the state.
