IMPHAL, May 15: The final hearing of the pending fake encounter cases by the Supreme Court is likely to be held during August or September this year. This was stated by the president of the Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association (EEVFAM).
In a press conference at its office on Thursday, EEVFAM president Renu said that the Supreme Court will start the proceedings of a constitutional bench hearing before the summer vacation.
EEVFAM had asked the Supreme Court to fix the dates of final hearing of its cases.
Adding that the Chief Justice informed that the final hearing pending from last year will take place on either August or September this year, she lamented that 1528 fake encounter cases of Manipur are still pending at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has taken up six random cases of extrajudicial execution by the police and security forces in Manipur.
The state government has not paid the monetary compensation which was recommended by the National Human Rights Commission in a camp sitting held at Imphal last year from October 23 to 25 regarding six such cases, she said, adding that families of three victims who were summoned by Manipur Police were also not given any opportunity to testify before the commission.
The Supreme Court appointed a three member penal headed by Justice Santosh Hegde, a retired judge of Supreme Court to examine six cases with seven victims of extrajudicial execution on January last year following a writ petition (criminal) number 129 of 2012 filed by EEVFAM to investigate the 1528 fake encounter cases.
The findings of the commission established that the reasons of the killing of the six persons were not genuine and the victims did not have any criminal backgrounds. It was under a court directive that the NHRC team visited Manipur.
She added that there are 30 cases in High Court under writ jurisdiction involving several cases of fake encounters in Manipur. The court directed lower courts such as the court of District Judge and first track courts to help form an inquiry to ascertain the facts and circumstances leading to the death.
There are many counter affidavits from the central and state government with the state government arguing that the victims were related with unlawful activities.
On January 4, 2013, the Supreme Court appointed a three members penal headed by Justice Santosh Hegde to examine six cases of seven victims of extrajudicial executions by security forces and state police in Manipur. With Hedge’s support, cases against extra-judicial executions were filed at Supreme Court to bring out the truth that fake encounters do really occurred in Manipur.
Meanwhile, EEVFAM has expressed grief on the sudden demise of scientist and activist Mukul Sinha around 5 pm on May 12 at the age of 63 due to complications arising out of lung cancer from which he has been suffering since past few months. EEVFAM condoled his demise by observing two minutes of silence.
