Relief to 30 army personnel accused of killing 13 civilians, SC stops criminal proceedings

The apex court also closed the proceedings on two separate petitions of wives of army personnel seeking closure of the case registered by Nagaland Police.

One of them was by the wife of a Major rank officer. The court also declined to accept the plea of the Nagaland government that the army be directed to take action against the military personnel accused administratively. The court said in its order that it is completely the discretion of the army whether to initiate disciplinary proceedings against its officers or not.

The Supreme Court also said that the Nagaland government has filed a separate petition challenging the Centre's refusal to allow prosecution against military officers and notice has been issued in this matter.

Earlier, the apex court had stayed further proceedings in the FIR lodged by the state government against the army personnel in an interim order dated July 19, 2022. The wives of the army personnel had sought to stop the criminal proceedings on the ground that the state government does not have the right to prosecute the army personnel due to the exemption granted under AFSPA.