The Supreme Court on January 28 extended the tenure of the Justice Gita Mittal-led committee overseeing relief, rehabilitation and compensation for victims of ethnic violence in Manipur till July 31, 2026.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order after noting that the committee’s earlier term had formally ended in July 2025, even though it continued its work. The court was informed that the panel has so far submitted 42 reports covering various aspects of victim rehabilitation.

“Since no formal extension was granted since July 2025, the continuation of the committee shall be regularised and is granted time till July 31, 2026,” Chief Justice Kant said.

The committee was constituted by the apex court on August 7, 2023, to supervise relief and rehabilitation measures for those affected by the Manipur violence. Former Maharashtra Director General of Police Dattatray Padsalgikar was also appointed to monitor investigations into criminal cases related to the unrest.

Headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal, the three-member panel includes Justice (retd) Shalini P. Joshi of the Bombay High Court and Justice (retd) Asha Menon of the Delhi High Court. The committee reports directly to the Supreme Court, which continues to monitor cases arising from the ethnic strife.

The panel was set up days after the court described as “deeply disturbing” a video showing women being paraded naked during the violence.

Ethnic clashes in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2023, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The violence has since claimed over 200 lives, injured hundreds, and displaced thousands.