Manipur shows the way (A strong anti-lynching law comes into being)

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 Manipur shows the way (A strong anti-lynching law comes into being)

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• S.C.'s historical verdict : The Supreme Court, in 2018, spoke of the "horrific acts of mobocracy" after a spate of lynchings in Indian states over various issues, spurred by fake news. SC had ordered the governments to protect the "pluralist social fabric" from mob violence.
• 'Please make a law' : The S.C. urged the Parliament to make a law to curb lynchings, but the Central Govt. dithered, and insisted that existing laws are enough. Most states too were silent. Manipur alone has been the one that passed a landmark law against lynching. Why and how? The horrific lynching video of a Muslim youth (MBA) shocked the state.
• A comprehensive law : The Manipur law has special features as listed -

1. Definition of lynching : It covers many hate crimes including acts of violence or aiding or abetting them, by a mob on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, language, dietary practices, sexual orientation, political affiliation, ethnicity or other grounds.
2. Mobs not individuals : Solitary hate crimes are excluded. A group of 2 or more is needed. In past 4 years, majority of hate crimes were indeed mob crimes, but horrible individual cases existed (killing of Md Afrazul in Rajasthan). [This provision, hence, is incorrect]
3. Duty of officials decided : If a police/admin officer in charge of law and order is unable to ensure the same, it would be dereliction of duty, liable for punishment of 1-3 yrs imprisonment, and fine.  [This is the best provision]
4. Removes protection for public officials in charge : As on date, no public official can be charged when crimes happen under their watch (Courts can't take cognisance of such offences, unless State govt. sanctions it). The Manipur Law removes "prior sanction“ requirements.  [A remarkable move]
5. Section 153A of IPC can be invoked : This section relates to fostering enmity between people on the basis of religion, race, language etc. Registering such crimes needs state govt. permission, and they usually protect criminals aligned to their philosophy. Now Manipur Law makes it possible to invoke Section 153A, IPC.
6. Duty of State Govt. to protect victims and witnesses : The State has to protect them from intimidation, coercion, inducement, violence etc., and also from a hostile environment of community boycott etc.
7. Rehabilitation : The law requires the State to give relief for displaced victims, and death compensation.

• Karwan-e-Mohabbat : This campaign for solidarity investigated many hate crimes, and found that the Police acted brazenly almost always. How? Arriving late, watching as crimes happened, delaying hospitalisation, ill-treating the victims, ensuring their death, registering cases against victims, defending the accused, etc.
• What's left to do? We need a gender-sensitive reparation on an atonement model, to make sure that the victim becomes better materially than what he/she was prior to the crime.
• Summary : Manipur became the first state in India to follow the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict on framing anti-lynching laws, and by fixing accountability of police and administration in such crimes, it may set an example for all others to follow.

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