New Delhi, February 18: The Supreme Court resolved a public interest litigation (PIL) on Wednesday, demanding the establishment of clear guidelines to combat racial violence against citizens from Northeastern states across India.
The bench described the recent murder of a student from Tripura in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, as “unfortunate.” The justices advised the petitioner to present the matter to the Attorney General, who serves as the chief legal officer of the central government.
Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi stated, “At this stage, we believe it is appropriate to bring these issues before the AG through the competent authority.”
The PIL highlighted that despite the implementation of the Indian Justice Code, 2023, and the Indian Citizen Safety Code, 2023, there is no clear legal identification for hate or racial crimes. It pointed out that discrimination is not recorded at the time of filing an FIR, and there is no specific system in place for the protection of victims.
During the hearing, the petitioner urged the Supreme Court to create a special system to handle complaints of discrimination based on identity, particularly in educational institutions.
Petitioner lawyer Anup Prakash Awasthi expressed, “This is very tragic. Many of my friends are from the Northeast. This is a real issue that cannot be denied. When something happens, bystanders merely smile and walk away, while the victim continues to suffer. This is a significant and serious problem.”
The Supreme Court has currently directed that the matter be brought to the attention of the Attorney General and advised the central government to take further action.
The bench also expressed concerns about creating separate systems based on locality. They warned that if victims are categorized by their region, it would send a negative message, leading people to identify others as “from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or Kashmir.” The bench emphasized that India’s federal structure is strong, and unity should be maintained rather than creating identities based on different regions.
This PIL was filed in response to the brutal attack and subsequent death of Angel Chakma, a resident of Tripura, in Dehradun. Chakma, a final-year MBA student, was assaulted on December 9, 2025, by a group of boys in the Selkui area. The victim’s brother reported that the attackers had subjected Chakma to racial slurs before the assault. Chakma’s last recorded statement echoed this sentiment, stating, “We are not Chinese… we are Indians. What certificate should we show to prove this?”
The PIL noted that these words were “sadly the last assertion of their belonging before the attack escalated into lethal violence.” It also pointed out that even if a crime occurs for racial reasons, it is often categorized as a “common crime,” diminishing the true intent and constitutional seriousness behind the offense.
Furthermore, the PIL argued that the initial criminal justice system lacks a mechanism to distinctly identify racial crimes, allowing a pattern for offenders to evade punishment. Citing previous incidents like the death of Nido Taniam in 2014, the petition argued that Angel Chakma’s murder is not an isolated incident but part of a long-standing pattern of racial violence against citizens from Northeastern states, a fact acknowledged by the central government in Parliament.
The PIL demands the creation of guidelines across India that recognize violence based on race as a constitutional crime and ensure effective protection of respect, equality, and brotherhood for all citizens.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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