Imphal Bench, Manipur

Brief History: Imphal Bench came into existence on 21st January 1972, the day Manipur attained its statehood. The President of India, his excellency vide Gauhati High Court (Establishment of Permanent Bench at Imphal) order, dated 21st January 1992 had notified the setup / establishment of a Permanent Bench of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (2) of section 31 of the North Eastern Areas (Re-organistation) Act 1971.

The honourable Chief Justice of India Mr. Justice M. H. Kania inaugurated the Permanent Bench of Imphal on 14th March 1992 along with Governor of Manipur, Mr. Chintamani Panigrahi and Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Mr. Justice U. L. Bhat.

Being only one Permanent Judge in this Bench, honorable Chief Justice of High Court may from time to time nominate Judges of Gauhati High Court, Principal seat in respect of cases arising in the state of Manipur. Since then the litigants and people of Manipur State have got the benefit of at least a permanent Judge sitting at the Imphal Bench.

Subordinate Judiciary:The courts of Manipur are divided into two divisions, viz Manipur East and Manipur West and Manipur East comprises of Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul whereas Manipur West comprises of Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel. There are two District courts & two Session Courts in Manipur headed by one District and Sessions Judge each. A number of subordinate Courts at the District and subordinate level come under these District Courts.

1. District Court:

   The code of Civil Procedure, 1908 regulates procedures of conduct of cases by all Civil Courts and it came into force since 1st January, 1909. The District Court is subordinate to the High Court and every Civil Court of a grade inferior to that of a district Court and every Court of small causes is subordinate to the High Court and District Court. It is headed by a District Judge appointed by the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench. Other subordinate courts like Additional District Court, Senior Division and Junior Division are lower hierarchies next to the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench. Each of these courts were established under different sections directed by Supreme Court which was passed by the Parliament from time to time.

2. Criminal Court:

   The code of Criminal Procedure 1973 has come into effect from April 1, 1974. The Courts for Criminal cases are established in accordance with the provisions of the code of Criminal Procedure 1974. The Criminal Procedure code is mainly an adjective law of procedure. The object of the code of Criminal Procedure is to provide a machinery for the punishment of offenders against the substantive Criminal law such as the Indian Penal code. The Sessions Court is the highest criminal court subordinate to the High Court and the subordinate Courts of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate and the Judicial Magistrate first class.

3. Special Courts:
   1. NDPS:

      The Government of Manipur established a special Court under section 36 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 namely the special (ND & PS) Court, Manipur located at Uripok Courts Complex, Imphal. Its main purpose is for speedy trial of offences relating to narcotic drugs & phychotropic substances.

   2. Family Courts:

      Established under the family Courts Act 1984. It deals with family disputes, maintainence, claims, judicial seperation and divorce. There is only one family court located at Lamphel Courts Complex.

4. Fast Tract Courts:

   Established on 5/10/2001. At present, it is located at Uripok Courts Complex and is headed by an Additional District Judge. Long pending cases more than two years at District and Sessions Courts level are transferred to the Fast Tract Courts for quick disposal.

   Like courts, not exactly similar, Government of Manipur sets up other offices for adjudication of quasi-judicial nature of cases viz Tribunals, Commissions and Forums etc.

5. Tribunals:

   The Tribunal functions as S Revenue Tribunal under the MLR and LR Act 1960, as a Motor Accident Claims under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and as an Industrial Tribunal under the Industrial Disputes Act 1948. The Government of Manipur established the said Tribunal to function as a Tribunal as and when required under any law.

6. Commission:

   Manipur Human Rights Commission, Lamphelpat was established on 27th June 1998 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The main purpose is for protection of human rights and prevention of violation of human rights. A person can make a complaint for violation of human rights to the State Commission. The Commission at present consists of four members headed by one chairperson Mr. Justice S. N. Bhargava, Retd. Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court.

The courts of Manipur are divided into two divisions, viz Manipur East and Manipur West. Manipur East comprises of Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul.

List of the different courts with the name of judges in different districts are as follows: