SC takes suo motu cognisance of disturbing video

The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognisance of a shocking instance of a viral video showing two women belonging to the Kuki tribe being paraded naked and subjected to sexual violence in Manipur.

A bench, headed by CJI DY Chandrachud, summoned both attorney general R Venkataramani and solicitor general Tushar Mehta to convey that it was “deeply disturbed” by the incident. The CJI told the two top law officers to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book, failing which SC would step in.

Observing that it was “simply unacceptable”, the CJI said the bench was deeply disturbed to see that women have been used as instruments of perpetrated violence in an area of communal strife. It sought the response of the central and state governments on the steps taken by them to book the perpetrators.


The SC ordered: “What is portrayed in the media and visuals which appeared show gross constitutional violation and infraction of human life. Using women as instruments of perpetrated violence is against constitutional democracy.” Mehta too condemned the incident calling it “completely unacceptable”. He said the government has initiated steps to bring the perpetrators to book and the outcome of the same would be placed before SC, which said the matter be taken up for resumed hearing on July 28.