New Delhi, The Supreme Court has refused to consider the petition of a transgender activist, seeking directions to quash the FIR lodged against him for fasting unto death in protest against caste clashes in Manipur.
However, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud gave liberty to the activist, Malem Thongam, to approach the Manipur High Court for redressal of his grievances.
"The petitioner would be at liberty to approach the Manipur High Court in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Therefore, we are not inclined to entertain a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. " ,” the bench, also comprising Justice B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra, said.
Thongam started his hunger strike at Delhi University on 22 February. She left Delhi for Manipur on 27 February, where she continued her hunger strike at Kangla West Gate in Imphal.
Manipur Police arrested Thongam on 2 March on charges of attempting suicide and promoting enmity between groups, but released him on 5 March. A day later, he was arrested again for protesting in public.
Chaos and uncontrolled violence had erupted in Manipur in May last year following a High Court order directing the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.
This order led to large-scale ethnic clashes in the northeastern state. More than 17 people have been killed and several hundred injured since the violence broke out on May 3 last year when a "tribal solidarity march" was held in the hill districts to protest against the demand for S status of the majority Meitei community.
However, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud gave liberty to the activist, Malem Thongam, to approach the Manipur High Court for redressal of his grievances.
"The petitioner would be at liberty to approach the Manipur High Court in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Therefore, we are not inclined to entertain a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. " ,” the bench, also comprising Justice B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra, said.
Thongam started his hunger strike at Delhi University on 22 February. She left Delhi for Manipur on 27 February, where she continued her hunger strike at Kangla West Gate in Imphal.
Manipur Police arrested Thongam on 2 March on charges of attempting suicide and promoting enmity between groups, but released him on 5 March. A day later, he was arrested again for protesting in public.
Chaos and uncontrolled violence had erupted in Manipur in May last year following a High Court order directing the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.
This order led to large-scale ethnic clashes in the northeastern state. More than 17 people have been killed and several hundred injured since the violence broke out on May 3 last year when a "tribal solidarity march" was held in the hill districts to protest against the demand for S status of the majority Meitei community.
