Supreme Court urges Kuki, Meitei groups to make peace, remove blockade on highways
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant says highways act as a lifeline for ordinary people; the court says it does not want to pass any sweeping directions which may unsettle the State again
On August 14, 2026, the Supreme Court called upon Kuki and Meitei groups to work towards peace, remove blockades on National Highways leading to Manipur, and permit essential supplies to reach the northeastern state, which has been plagued by ethnic violence since May 2023. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, presiding over a three-judge Bench, emphasized that highways serve as a lifeline for ordinary citizens.
The court was considering a petition submitted by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights, requesting the removal of the blockade on National Highway 2 and the restoration of essential services to the state. The Chief Justice questioned both groups represented by their respective counsel, asking them to comprehend that blocking the highway does not benefit either party.
The court, also acting as a petitioner, implored the parties to consider peace. The bench sought to know if there were any other highways blocked to Manipur. Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing the NGO petitioner, stated that the situation was dire due to the shortage of essential supplies affecting the lives of the people in Manipur.
While agreeing with Mr. Grover, the court expressed a reluctance to issue sweeping directives that could further disrupt the state.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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