Imphal: Two civil society organisations, Team Meitei Personalities Manipur and the Meitei Alliance Trust, have approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to ensure uninterrupted movement of passengers and essential goods on National Highways in Manipur amid recurring blockades and disruptions.
The public interest litigation (PIL), filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, names the Union government through the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Manipur government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as respondents. The petition seeks measures to ensure safe, unrestricted and non-discriminatory access to highway routes across the state.
The petitioners have urged the Supreme Court to direct central and state security agencies to prepare a coordinated, time-bound plan to protect highways. The proposed plan would identify vulnerable stretches, establish rapid-response mechanisms and deploy security personnel to prevent and respond to blockades.
The plea also calls for ensuring that access to highways is not restricted on the basis of ethnicity, community, residence, place of origin or destination.
The petitioners have further sought action against unauthorised gates, barriers, checkpoints and collection booths on national highways under the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002. They have also proposed a dedicated 24-hour reporting channel, managed by nodal officers, to enable complaints about blockades and extortion while protecting complainants.
The PIL seeks accountability measures, including a court-appointed commission to oversee implementation and the possible establishment of a special court to deal with highway-related offences. It also asks the government to maintain consolidated records of highway disruptions and submit regular status reports on alternative road connectivity projects.
The petitioners have argued that uninterrupted highway access is necessary for public safety, the rule of law and the transportation of essential supplies, including food and medical goods.