Centre appoints SC judge as new head of panel probing Manipur ethnic violence

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday appointed former Supreme Court judge Balbir Singh Chauhan as the new chairperson of the commission of inquiry probing the ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur in May 2023. This follows resignation of the incumbent, former chief justice of Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba. Justice Chauhan will assume charge on March 1, consequent upon the acceptance of Justice Lamba's resignation with effect from February 28. "The terms of reference and other conditions of the commission as notified in the principal notification...dated June 4, 2023, as amended from time to time, shall remain unchanged," the home ministry stated in a gazette notification issued on Thursday. The commission, The ethnic violence had led the Centre to place Manipur under President's rule for almost a year. President's rule was lifted last month and a popular govt installed in the state, with Y Khemchand Singh as chief minister.