Manipur Violence Inquiry Commission 2026 Report Deadline and Mandate

Why is the Manipur Violence Inquiry Commission in the News?

The Manipur Violence Inquiry Commission has received its seventh extension, with the Centre setting May 20, 2027, as the deadline for submission of its report. Constituted on June 4, 2023, the Commission is investigating the ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023. Its inquiry covers the sequence of events, the causes and spread of the violence, possible administrative lapses and the adequacy of measures taken to prevent and control it.

Background of the 2023 Manipur Ethnic Violence

Ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023, following a Tribal Solidarity March organised in the hill districts.

• The march was organised to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.
• The violence primarily involved clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
• It resulted in widespread loss of life, displacement, arson and destruction of property.
• The violence was preceded by tensions over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, among other local disputes.

According to figures presented by the Manipur Home Minister in the State Assembly, 306 people had been killed and 49 remained missing as of August 31, 2026.

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Manipur Violence Inquiry Commission 2026 Establishment and Composition 

The Central Government constituted the three-member Commission of Inquiry on June 4, 2023, on the recommendation of the Manipur government. It was established to investigate the violence as a matter of public importance.

The Commission initially comprised:

• Justice Ajai Lamba: Former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and the first Chairperson.
• Himanshu Shekhar Das: Retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
• Aloka Prabhakar: Retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.

Following Justice Ajai Lamba’s resignation with effect from February 28, 2026, the Centre appointed Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the new Chairperson with effect from March 1, 2026. The other two members continued on the panel.

Manipur Violence Inquiry Commission 2026 Mandate and Terms of Reference

The Manipur Violence Inquiry Commission has been assigned the following responsibilities:

1. Causes and spread of violence: Investigating the causes and spread of violence and riots targeting members of different communities in Manipur from May 3, 2023, onwards.
2. Sequence of events: Establishing the sequence of events leading to the violence and examining the facts associated with it.
3. Administrative accountability: Determining whether there were any lapses or dereliction of duty by responsible authorities or individuals.
4. Assessment of government response: Examining the adequacy of administrative measures taken to prevent and deal with the violence and riots.
5. Examination of complaints: Considering complaints and allegations submitted by individuals or associations in connection with the violence.

Legal Framework: Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952

The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 provides the legal framework for establishing commissions to investigate definite matters of public importance.

• Section 3 – Appointment of Commission: The Central or State Government may appoint a Commission of Inquiry through an official notification to investigate a matter of public importance. The notification specifies its functions and the time within which it must complete the inquiry.
• Section 4 – Powers of Commission: A Commission has certain powers of a civil court, including summoning witnesses, examining them on oath, requiring the production of documents and receiving evidence on affidavits.
• Section 5 – Additional powers: The appropriate government may confer additional powers on a Commission to facilitate its inquiry.
• Section 6 – Statements made before the Commission: Statements made by a person before the Commission are generally protected from use against that person in civil or criminal proceedings, subject to the exceptions specified in the Act.

Nature of the Commission: A Commission of Inquiry is primarily a fact-finding body. Its findings and recommendations do not automatically have the force of a judicial decree or determine criminal liability. Under Section 3(4), the report, along with a memorandum explaining the action taken, must be laid before the appropriate legislature within six months of its submission to the government.