6 Supreme Court Judges To Visit Manipur Relief Camps To Spearhead NALSA Mission For Legal Aid & Humanitarian Assistance

Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, M.M. Sundresh, K.V. Viswanathan, N. Kotiswar Singh will embark on the special visit. Justice Gavai is the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority. Justice N Kotiswar Singh hails from Manipur.

The purpose of the visit is to stress on need for humanitarian and legal support for affected communities.

“Nearly two years after the devastating sectarian violence of May 3, 2023, which led to the loss of hundreds of lives and displaced over 50,000 people, many continue to seek refuge in relief camps across Manipur. This visit by the Supreme Court Judges highlights the ongoing need for legal and humanitarian assistance to these affected communities," NALSA said in a press release.

As part of the visit, Justice Gavai will virtually inaugurate Legal Services Camps and Medical Camps across all districts of Manipur, as well as the new Legal Aid Clinics in Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul districts. This will also include distribution of essential relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The Legal Services Camps will connect IDPs with government welfare programs, ensuring access to vital benefits such as healthcare, pensions, employment schemes, and identity document reconstruction. Each participating State Department will outline at least five key schemes tailored to address the needs of the displaced population.

A team of 25 specialized doctors from Chennai will conduct Medical Camps across all relief camps. Their services will continue for six additional days, ensuring sustained medical support, treatment, and access to essential medicines for displaced families.

Notably, the NALSA and Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) came together to help provide legal aid during the ethnic crisis. MASLSA also established 273 Special Legal Aid Clinics at relief camps, assisting IDPs in availing government benefits, lost documents, and medical aid.