Biren Singh tape: SC questions FSL report's credibility, asks for re-examination
The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the credibility of a sealed cover Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report submitted by the union government on the leaked audio tapes allegedly featuring former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh and directed the government to submit a 'fresh' report.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar said the Central FSL will need to re-examine the audio files in which Singh is purportedly heard saying that the ethnic violence in the state was instigated at his insistence, and then submit a fresh report.
The bench asked the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to secure instructions from the union government on getting the Central FSL to 're-examine' the audio tapes and submit a fresh report.
The court issued the directions after examining a report that was submitted by the Solicitor General in a sealed cover on Monday. After reading the report, the court said, 'What is this? You (union government) have to speak to your officers about it. Read the content and then talk to the offices, please examine and bring a fresh report,' the court said.
Even as SG Mehta said he had not personally examined the contents of the report and hence, cannot comment on it, the court said neither the judiciary nor the union government was expected to 'protect anyone.'
The apex court was hearing a petition filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust through advocate Prashant Bhushan, seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the tapes, claiming that they reveal evidence of the CM's involvement in fuelling the ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur that began in May 2023 and lasted till February this year. The violence claimed more than 230 lives and displaced tens of thousands in the northeastern state.
After two years of unrest and violence in the state, Singh, who was the chief minister of Manipur at the time, stepped down on February 9, 2025, leading to the imposition of President's rule in the state on February 13.
The leaked tapes in question allegedly pertain to audio recordings made by a whistleblower during a closed-door meeting with Singh. The petitioner NGO has claimed the tapes substantiate allegations of deliberate instigation of ethnic violence in the state.
On Monday, as Bhushan pressed for an SIT, SG Mehta questioned the credentials of the petitioner NGO and called it a 'rookie organisation.' Mehta also said a probe into the violence was already being conducted by the State and it needed at least a month more for the same. 'Peace is now prevailing and the high court (of Manipur) can examine the issue. Let the investigation go on, rather than escalating the situation any further,' Mehta said.
The Supreme Court, however, said irrespective of who was the petitioner, the government and the court did not need to protect anyone.
'Let us ignore the petitioner but if there is something wrong done, don't have to protect that wrong,' the court said and directed the Solicitor General to secure instructions on re-examination and the fresh report by July 21.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Will Trump get to pick US Supreme Court justices in his second term?
Legal experts suggest that Donald Trump may have the opportunity to appoint additional Supreme Court justices during a potential second term, potentially reshaping the court's direction for decades. Justices Thomas, Alito, and Roberts may face pressure to retire, allowing Trump to install younger, like-minded individuals. Experts have said Trump might appoint loyalist justice. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Can Trump overhaul judiciary? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Can Trump pick judges? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump may seek loyalty over ideology During his first term in office, President Donald Trump appointed 226 federal court judges, including three US Supreme Court justices. Trump successfully installed judges who promoted his political agenda, including overturning the landmark ruling from 1973 that declared the Constitution guaranteed the right to abortion, Roe v. something unusual appears to be unfolding in his second term. Rather than reinforcing Trump-era policies, federal judges — even those appointed by Trump himself — are now halting key parts of the president's second-term initiatives. So, a question that keeps popping up on everyone's mind is that- Will Donald Trump appoint Supreme Court judges in the US?Trump may have the opportunity to appoint new Supreme Court justices during his second term in office, legal experts told Newsweek. During his first term in office, Trump appointed three justices to the US Supreme Court, thus significantly influencing the judiciary system. Trump may have another chance to nominate a justice in the coming years- —an appointment that could shape the Court's direction for decades. Such a move would likely have profound effects on public policy, particularly in areas like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, and executive Justices Clarence Thomas (76), Samuel Alito (75), and Chief Justice John Roberts (70) are already facing calls from some on the right to consider retirement in the coming years. With Republicans currently holding control of the presidency and a 53-seat majority in the Senate, they are in a strong position to confirm new Supreme Court justices without Democratic argue that Republicans should take a lesson from Democrats, who have previously faced setbacks when their justices chose not to retire during favorable political Urman, a law professor at Northeastern University, told Newsweek that while it's impossible to predict exactly when a justice might step down, Justices Alito and Thomas are the most likely candidates for retirement—primarily to allow a like-minded successor to be appointed. However, he noted that this isn't a certainty, as both justices are now part of the majority after spending years as dissenting voices on the Court, a position they deeply from the right may not be convincing to the justices, he said."Judges and especially Justices are very independent, and I don't think they will be too influenced by the pressure campaign," he said. "It's ultimately a very personal decision and the Ginsburg example is important but she was older and faced more health issues than the current justices."None of the current justices on the court have publicly said they plan to retire anytime federal prosecutor Gene Rossi told Newsweek Thomas could wait until after the 2026 midterms to avoid giving Democrats a motivating issue ahead of the elections."However, if that happens, President Trump will pick a very young and conservative nominee because in his mind, he got burned with Justice Barrett," he said. "And he wants to put his further imprint on the tenor of the High Court."Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Newsweek: "It's likely Trump appoints at least one Supreme Court Justice, and maybe two. The odds increase over his four-year term, especially with Justices Thomas and Alito being in their mid-70s.""Trump's Cabinet and officer appointees during his second term have been largely loyalists without the experience or independent streaks that frustrated him during his first term. His Supreme Court appointment(s) will likely reflect those same values, especially given the importance of the judiciary in standing in the way of his executive orders."Stephen Wermiel, a constitutional law professor at American University, told Newsweek, "It's uncertain whether Trump will have another Supreme Court vacancy. But there's a good chance conservatives will begin urging Roberts, Thomas, and Alito to retire after this term so Trump could install younger, like-minded justices.'Legal analysts believe Trump may prioritize personal loyalty over ideological alignment when choosing future Supreme Court McQuade, a former federal prosecutor, told Newsweek that frustration with decisions made by Justices Barrett and Roberts may drive Trump to look for candidates who are not only conservative but personally loyal to him."Trump could seek justices who won't break from him on major rulings," McQuade said. "That could have a major impact on upcoming cases dealing with birthright citizenship, transgender healthcare, and the limits of executive power."Justice Amy Coney Barrett has occasionally sided against Trump's positions, including a ruling against deporting alleged gang members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Her independent stance has drawn criticism from Trump-aligned analyst Urman agreed that loyalty may guide Trump's future selections, noting that he 'appears to value loyalty above all else in his nominees.' Any new appointments, Urman added, would likely align more closely with the judicial philosophies of Justices Thomas or Alito than Barrett.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Hong Kong Appoints New Zealand Judge To Top Court
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A New Zealand judge has been appointed to Hong Kong's top court amid overseas jurist exodus. William Young, 73, joins five other overseas non-permanent justices from the UK and Australia. Hong Kong invites overseas judges to its Court of Final Appeal to uphold common law jurisdiction. Hong Kong: A New Zealand judge has been appointed as a justice of Hong Kong's top court, after a years-long exodus of overseas jurists following Beijing's imposition of a sweeping security law on the finance hub. Hong Kong's lawmakers on Wednesday approved the appointment of William Young, 73, to join five other overseas non-permanent justices from the UK and Australia. Hong Kong is a common law jurisdiction separate from mainland China and invites overseas judges to hear cases at its Court of Final Appeal. Their presence has been seen as a bellwether for the rule of law since the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997. Beijing passed a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, following huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in the Chinese city the year before. Since then, several overseas judges have quit the Court of Final Appeal without finishing their terms, while others have not renewed their appointments. The lineup of overseas judges has gone from 15 at its peak down to five, not including Mr Young. The newly appointed justice, who retired from his role as a New Zealand Supreme Court judge in April 2022, is expected to start in Hong Kong this month. Hong Kong leader John Lee accepted a recommendation to appoint Mr Young in May and praised him as "a judge of eminent standing and reputation". Cases at the top court in Hong Kong are typically heard by a panel of four local judges and a fifth ad hoc member, who may be a foreign judge. In January, Hong Kong's chief justice said recruiting suitable overseas judges "may be less straightforward than it once was", given geopolitical headwinds. The government has defended the security law as necessary to restore order after the 2019 protests and said the city remains a well-respected legal hub.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Suraj Narayan Singh's birth anniv function to also be held in D'bhanga: CM
Patna/Darbhanga: CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced that the state function to celebrate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and social activist Suraj Narayan Singh would also be held in Darbhanga, besides being celebrated in capital Patna. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The CM made the announcement after paying floral tributes to Singh at a function held in the Polo block of Laheriasarai subdivision in Darbhanga district. "Every year, a state function is held in Patna to celebrate the birth anniversary of Suraj Narayan. Now a similar function will also be held in Darbhanga. I have instructed the district magistrate to install his life-size statue in Darbhanga and construct a memorial as well," the CM said, adding that Singh had also organised farmers' movements, besides leading a socialist movement in the post-Independence period. Among those who also participated in the function were deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Maheshwar Hazari, Madan Sahani, Sanjay Saraogi and Hari Sahani, as well as MP Gopaljee Thakur, Lovely Anand and former MP Anand Mohan, besides several MLAs. Senior divisional and district officials, along with CM's secretary Anupam Kumar, were also present.
