Disqualification proceedings on against five MLAs Tribunal gives three weeks to reply

IMPHAL, Oct 25: The Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker’s Tribunal today heard the seven disqualification cases filed against five defector MLAs who were elected on JD (U) tickets but later defected to BJP.
The five MLAs who defected to BJP from JD (U) are Khumukcham Joykisan (Thangmeiband AC), Ngur-sanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh AC), Md Achab Uddin (Jiribam AC), Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei AC) and LM Khaute (Chura-chandpur AC).
Seven petitions were filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal by Hareshwar Goshwami of Congress, JD(U) State Unit Secretary General Maisnam Dorendro and Mangsha-tabam Surjit seeking disqualification of the five MLAs under Article 191(2) and para 2(1)(A) of the Constitution’s 10th Schedule and Rule 6 of the Manipur Legislative  Assembly (Disqualification on the Ground of Defection) Rules 1986.
Citing a Supreme Court verdict, Advocate N Bupenda Meitei who appeared for Hareshwar Goshwami sought hearing and speedy disposal of all the pending disqualification petitions within three months of filing the petitions at the Speaker’s Tribunal.
He also pleaded to make copies of orders of daily proceedings or hearings of the Speaker’s Tribunal available.
He also pleaded for a change of year from 2024 to 2022, as his client filed the five disqualification petitions against the defected 5 JD(U) MLAs in 2022 and not in 2024, and sought for a separate reasoned order on the change of the year from 2022 to 2024.
Advocate Ajoy Pebam appeared for petitioners, M Dorendro Singh and M Surjit Singh.
Senior Advocate L Anand Singh, junior associates of Senior Advocate RS Reisang and other counsels appeared for the respondents in today’s proceedings at the Speaker’s Tribunal. The respondents’ counsels pressed for 3 to 4 weeks’ time while the petitioners’ counsels argued for speedy disposal of the pending disqualification matters.
After hearing both the parties through their counsels, the Speaker’s Tribunal gave three weeks’ time to the respondents to file their replies and announced that the next proceedings will be held after three weeks’ time.