The Supreme Court has protected lawyer Deeksha Dwivedi, who Manipur Police arrested for participating in a fact-finding mission in the state and conducting a press meeting on behalf of the National Federation of Indian Women. Dwivedi faced charges of sedition, conspiracy to wage war against India, and other offences. Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra, took note of the case and requested Dwivedi’s lawyer, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, to provide a copy of the petition to the counsel assisting Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represents the Manipur government.
The court highlighted the apprehension of Dwivedi’s potential arrest and the petitioner’s lack of access to the FIR (First Information Report). Dwivedi, an accomplished lawyer with a commendable background spanning four years in their field, lent their skills and knowledge as a member of a fact-finding delegation backed by the esteemed National Federation of Indian Women. This delegation conducted extensive investigations during their trip to Manipur before addressing the media through an enlightening press conference. The interim order issued by the court ensures that no coercive steps will be taken against the petitioner until 5 p.m. on Friday.
In related proceedings on Monday, the Supreme Court emphasised that it was not a platform for escalating tensions in Manipur and urged warring ethnic groups to exercise restraint during the court hearings. The court was hearing petitions filed by various organisations, including the Manipur Tribal Forum seeking Army protection for the Kuki tribe, and Dinganglung Gangmei, chairman of the Hills Area Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, who challenged the high court’s order regarding the designation of the Meitei community as a Scheduled Tribe.