Disqualification proceedings initiated against defector MLAs
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 20: The Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker’s Tribunal has initiated disqualification proceedings against the five MLAs who were elected on Janata Dal (United) tickets and 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 Ashab Uddin (Jiribam AC), Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei AC) and LM Khaute (Chura-chandpur AC).
With Hareshwar Goswami of Congress, JD(U) State Unit Secretary General Maisnam Dorendro and Mangshatabam Surjit as petitioners, seven cases were filed with the Speaker’s Tribunal 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.
Ahead of the disqualification proceedings which began at 11.30 am today, the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretary issued a notification on Thursday.
Speaking to media persons at the gate of Manipur Legislative Assembly today, Advocate N Bupenda Meitei who is representing petitioner Hareshwar Goswami said that similar disqualification cases were filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal on October 24, 2022 against the five defector MLAs.
After a gap of almost two years, the tribunal initiated due proceedings of the case only today.
After perusing the case, the tribunal has directed the respondents to submit replies within four weeks, Bupenda said.
A three-Judge bench of the Supreme Court passed an order in 2020 in a Keisam Meghachandra versus Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly case which directed that disqualification cases filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal must be disposed of with final verdicts within three months of filing the cases, he said.
Hareshwar Goswami said that the five JD(U) MLAs defected to BJP on September 4, 2022.
Subsequently, several petitions were filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal on October 24, 2022 seeking disqualification of the five MLAs under the Constitution’s 10th Schedule. But the tribunal initiated proceedings of the disqualification case only today, he said.
Pointing out that the tribunal is defying the Supreme Court’s direction by taking up the disqualification case only today after almost two years, the petitioner urged the tribunal to pass its final verdict on the case as soon as possible, Advocate Bupenda told the media.
Saying that the next hearing will be held after four weeks, Bupenda exuded confidence that the Speaker’s Tribunal will respect the Supreme Court’s direction and pass a final judgement at the earliest.
The five MLAs were represented by their counsels during today’s hearing at the Speaker’s Tribunal.
IMPHAL, Sep 20: The Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker’s Tribunal has initiated disqualification proceedings against the five MLAs who were elected on Janata Dal (United) tickets and 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 Ashab Uddin (Jiribam AC), Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei AC) and LM Khaute (Chura-chandpur AC).
With Hareshwar Goswami of Congress, JD(U) State Unit Secretary General Maisnam Dorendro and Mangshatabam Surjit as petitioners, seven cases were filed with the Speaker’s Tribunal 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.
Ahead of the disqualification proceedings which began at 11.30 am today, the Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretary issued a notification on Thursday.
Speaking to media persons at the gate of Manipur Legislative Assembly today, Advocate N Bupenda Meitei who is representing petitioner Hareshwar Goswami said that similar disqualification cases were filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal on October 24, 2022 against the five defector MLAs.
After a gap of almost two years, the tribunal initiated due proceedings of the case only today.
After perusing the case, the tribunal has directed the respondents to submit replies within four weeks, Bupenda said.
A three-Judge bench of the Supreme Court passed an order in 2020 in a Keisam Meghachandra versus Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly case which directed that disqualification cases filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal must be disposed of with final verdicts within three months of filing the cases, he said.
Hareshwar Goswami said that the five JD(U) MLAs defected to BJP on September 4, 2022.
Subsequently, several petitions were filed at the Speaker’s Tribunal on October 24, 2022 seeking disqualification of the five MLAs under the Constitution’s 10th Schedule. But the tribunal initiated proceedings of the disqualification case only today, he said.
Pointing out that the tribunal is defying the Supreme Court’s direction by taking up the disqualification case only today after almost two years, the petitioner urged the tribunal to pass its final verdict on the case as soon as possible, Advocate Bupenda told the media.
Saying that the next hearing will be held after four weeks, Bupenda exuded confidence that the Speaker’s Tribunal will respect the Supreme Court’s direction and pass a final judgement at the earliest.
The five MLAs were represented by their counsels during today’s hearing at the Speaker’s Tribunal.