![Mandatory Day-to-Day Trial and Precedence of NIA Cases Over Other Pending Judicial Proceedings. Shri Soram Tekendrajit & Anr. v. The Union of India & Ors. [PIL No. 18 of 2024 with MC(PIL) No. 28 of 2025]. Manipur High Court. LawLens](/stories/thumbnails/mandatory-day-to-day-trial-and-precedence-of-nia-cases-over-other-pending-judicial-proceed-03837cea48e14282b7e52f0538598041.webp)
01Facts
This Public Interest Litigation (PIL) arose from an incident on November 11, 2024, in Jakrodhor Karong village, Jiribam District, where eight civilians (including women and infants) were killed or abducted and killed, and property was set ablaze.
p. 3, para 3The Petitioners sought directions for the arrest of the culprits, timely completion of the investigation, and payment of compensation to the victims' families.
p. 4, para 4Procedurally, the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and registered as Special Trial (NIA) Case No. 4 of 2026.
p. 4, para 5By the time of the hearing, three accused had been arrested, a chargesheet was filed on January 23, 2026, and the State had accorded administrative approval for compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs to the next of kin of each deceased.
p. 4, para 5 · p. 5, para 802Issues
i.Whether the prayers for investigation, arrest, and compensation have been substantially rendered infructuous by the actions already taken by the respondents.
p. 8, para 14ii.Whether the Special Court (NIA Special Court-I) should be directed to prioritize the trial on a day-to-day basis under the mandates of the NIA Act.
p. 7, para 1203Law Applied
The Court applied Section 19 of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, which mandates that trials be conducted on a day-to-day basis and take precedence over other trials.
p. 7, para 12It also referenced Section 193(9) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 (formerly Section 173(8) CrPC), regarding the power of the agency to conduct further investigation even after filing a chargesheet.
pp. 6-7, para 10Furthermore, the court considered the State and Central ex-gratia schemes for victim compensation.
p. 6, para 9Provisions in the judgment · 3 · Linked ones open on LawLens
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Section 193
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 Section 173
National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 Section 19
04Reasoning
The Court observed that the primary reliefs sought by the petitioners—investigation and compensation—had been effectively addressed.
The NIA had already filed the chargesheet and was continuing further investigation under Section 193(9) of BNSS to secure remaining culprits.
p. 7, para 10Regarding compensation, the Court noted that the State had sanctioned Rs. 80 lakhs and commenced disbursement.
pp. 5-6, paras 8-9A critical concern was the trial's pace, as the designated Special Court was not an exclusive NIA court and carried a significant backlog of civil and criminal cases.
p. 7, para 11To mitigate this, the Court invoked Section 19 of the NIA Act to ensure the trial receives statutory precedence and is conducted daily.
p. 7, para 12As the chargesheet had been filed, the NIA’s miscellaneous application (MC No. 28 of 2025) was deemed infructuous by the NIA's own counsel.
p. 8, para 1505Holding
The High Court disposed of the PIL, holding that the petitioners' grievances had been largely addressed.
p. 8, para 14The Court directed the Special Judge (NIA Special Court-I) to adhere to the day-to-day trial mandate of Section 19 of the NIA Act and to conclude the trial and return a verdict as expeditiously as possible.
pp. 7-8, paras 12-13Rights were reserved for the petitioners to approach the Court again should new circumstances arise.
p. 8, para 14The miscellaneous application by the NIA was closed as not pressed.
pp. 8-9, paras 15-16Original Court PDF
Shri Soram Tekendrajit & Anr. v. The Union of India & Ors. [PIL No. 18 of 2024 with MC(PIL) No. 28 of 2025]
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