‘Healing touch’ continues as SC extends Manipur relief panel till July 2026

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended the tenure of the all-women committee headed by former High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal to oversee relief and rehabilitation work in violence-hit Manipur till July 31, 2026. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the continuation of the panel was necessary to complete its remaining responsibilities.

The committee, constituted by the apex court in August 2023, has been functioning as the court’s monitoring mechanism to provide a “healing touch” in the northeastern state. The panel comprises Justice Gita Mittal, Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi, a former Bombay High Court judge, and Justice Asha Menon, a former Delhi High Court judge.

The judges noted that the committee has already submitted more than 40 reports identifying critical gaps in relief and rehabilitation efforts. Its work has focused on restoration of homesteads and places of worship, relief camp conditions, compensation, healthcare access, and the safety and rehabilitation of women affected by the violence.

The panel’s initial reports highlighted the urgent need to reconstruct thousands of essential documents destroyed during the gunfire, arson and unrest that rocked Manipur in May 2025. It also flagged the need for psychological support, medical care and sustained monitoring of relief camps.

The Supreme Court reiterated that the committee’s mandate is aimed at restoring public confidence in the rule of law while assisting authorities in addressing humanitarian concerns. The court requested the panel to endeavour to complete its tasks within the extended timeframe, reports said.