The Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Centre to investigate the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, has received its seventh extension, with the Union Government setting May 20, 2027, as the fresh deadline for submission of its report.
The extension, notified through a government order on November 13, further prolongs an inquiry into one of the most serious episodes of ethnic violence in the state’s recent history. The commission, which was originally expected to submit its findings within six months of its constitution, will now have nearly four years from its establishment to complete the investigation.
The commission was initially given a deadline of November 2023 under a notification issued in September 2023. Since then, its tenure has been extended repeatedly, with the latest order marking the seventh extension.
Headed by former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, Justice Ajai Lamba, the three-member commission was constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances and developments surrounding the violence that began on May 3, 2023.
Its terms of reference include examining the causes and spread of the violence, the sequence of events leading to the outbreak of ethnic clashes, and the involvement of different individuals and groups in the incidents targeting members of various communities.
The commission has also been tasked with examining whether there were any lapses or negligence on the part of responsible authorities, individuals or organisations in dealing with the situation. It is required to assess whether the administrative measures taken to prevent and contain the violence were adequate and whether the response of the authorities was appropriate in the circumstances.
The inquiry is also expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the loss of lives, destruction of property and other consequences of the prolonged violence, with a view to identifying the factors that contributed to the crisis.
The ethnic conflict, which erupted following tensions surrounding the demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community and a tribal solidarity march organised in the hill districts, has resulted in more than 300 deaths and displaced thousands of people. The violence has also led to a prolonged geographical and social separation between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, with large numbers of internally displaced persons continuing to remain away from their homes.
The repeated extensions of the commission’s tenure have kept its findings pending even as the state continues to grapple with the humanitarian, administrative and social consequences of the conflict.
The latest extension means that the commission’s final findings, including any identification of administrative failures and recommendations for preventing a recurrence of such violence, are not expected before May 20, 2027.