Centre extends deadline for Manipur violence inquiry commission until May 2026
Guwahati: The Union government on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) extended the deadline for the Commission of Inquiry probing the 2023 Manipur ethnic violence until May 20, 2026, according to an official notification. The violence, which erupted on May 3, 2023, claimed 260 lives and displaced thousands of residents.
The three-member commission, led by former Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajai Lamba, was constituted on June 4, 2023, following a recommendation from the Manipur government.
The panel also includes retired IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and retired IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar.
The Home Ministry’s notification stated that the commission must now submit its report to the Central government “as soon as possible but not later than May 20, 2026.”
The government originally mandated the panel to complete its inquiry within six months of its first sitting, but has extended the deadline four times so far — on September 13, 2024; December 3, 2024; May 20, 2025; and in the latest order.
The commission must examine the causes and spread of the violence, assess lapses or negligence by authorities and individuals, and review the effectiveness of administrative measures taken to prevent and respond to the riots. It must also investigate complaints or allegations submitted by individuals or associations.
The Home Ministry’s June 4, 2023, notification noted that the unrest erupted after Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur’s hill districts protested against a High Court recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Meitei community members in the Imphal Valley. The resulting clashes destroyed homes and property, leaving many residents homeless.
The Manipur government recommended the formation of a judicial commission on May 29, 2023, under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, to examine the causes and circumstances of the crisis. Acting on this recommendation, the Centre appointed the current inquiry panel.
Manipur is currently under President’s rule, imposed on February 13, 2025, after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned on February 9. Since taking office as Governor on January 3, Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been consulting with various stakeholders across the state to restore normalcy.