SC asked Chhattisgarh to respond on breach of Court’s Order on Salwa Judum

The Supreme Court of India on 22 August 2013 asked the State Government of Chhattisgarh to answer the court that why a contempt proceeding should not be initiated against it, as the state government failed to carry on the directions of the court that banned Salwa Judum by its order in July 2011.

The Court in its order asked the authorities to vacate the schools and ashrams, which were occupied by the Security Forces in the state.

A Supreme Court Bench of two Judges, Justice S.S. Nijjar and Justice Ibrahim Kalifulla, issued notice on the contempt petition filed filed by social anthropologist Nandini Sundar, Ram Guha, Swami Agnivesh, Kartam Joga, which complained failure of the state in following many directions of the court. 

Earlier on 5 July 2011, the Supreme Court of India gave a series of directions to the Central as well as the state Governments seeking a compliance report from both.

The petition mentioned that the Court in its decision ordered closure of all types of support to Salwa Judum, but the state government failed to acknowledge or punished the civilian militia (mercenaries). On the courts order of registering the FIRs to investigate the criminal cases were given a negligible importance (cited by NHRC). It also mentioned failure in offering compensations to anyone, for their property losses. Even, the victims of Salwa Judum, who lost their lives in the attack (except the ones died in Naxal Voilence), were not compensated by the state government.

About Salwa Judum

Salwa Judum was a civilian militia mobilised and deployed as part of anti-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh with an aim to counter the naxalite violence in the region. The militia consisted of the local tribal youths, who received support and training from the Chhattisgarh state government. It was founded by Mahendra Karma, who was killed in a naxalite attack on 25 May 2013 in Darbha Valley of Chhattisgarh.

SC in July 2011 declared Salwa Judum as unconstitutional and ordered the state government disband it and take away all the ammunition and accessories from the members.