JUDGMENT :

Madan B. Lokur, J.

1. This writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution raises important and fundamental questions of human rights violations – not in the context of the accused but in the context of the victims. Do the next of kin of deceased victims have any rights at all, other than receipt of monetary compensation?

2. The allegations made in the writ petition concern what are described as fake encounters or extra-judicial executions said to have been carried out by the Manipur Police and the armed forces of the Union, including the Army. According to the police and security forces, the encounters are genuine and the victims were militants or terrorists or insurgents killed in counter insurgency or anti terrorist operations. Whether the allegations are completely or partially true or are entirely rubbish and whether the encounter is genuine or not is yet to be determined, but in any case there is a need to know the truth.

3. The right to know the truth has gained increasing importance over the years. This right was articulated by the United Nations High Commis