Cabinet nods to table Bill for repeal of PS Act
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 16 2018:
A Cabinet meeting held this evening with Chief Minister N Biren in the chair agreed to table a Bill for repealing the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Act in the ongoing Manipur Legislative Assembly session.
The Cabinet meeting also agreed to table the Manipur Agricultural Produces and Livestock (Marketing and Promotion) Bill 2018 in the State Assembly.
The Cabinet meeting further discussed about setting up a fast track Court under NDPS Act and amending the Manipur District Council Act.
Altogether 12 MLAs of the BJP-led coalition Government were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries in March last year.
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Contending that the office of Parliamentary Secretary is an office of profit, Opposition Congress party had lodged complaints to the Governor to take up necessary action.
Moreover, a writ petition filed by two Congress MLAs against the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Act has been admitted by the High Court of Manipur and the matter has been listed for hearing on March 13.It has been already reported that subsequent upon two representations submitted by Congress seeking disqualification of the 12 MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla had started consulting legal experts.
Notably, eight BJP MLAs, three NPF MLAs and one independent MLA were sworn in as Parliamentary Secretaries on March 23 last year.
On the other hand, Chief Minister N Biren had clarified on the floor of the State Assembly that all the Parliamentary Secretaries had resigned.
The MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries are Khurai AC BJP MLA Leisangthem Susindro alias Yaima, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa BJP MLA Soibam Subhaschandra, Keirao AC BJP MLA Lourembam Rame-shwor, Kshetrigao AC BJP MLA N Indrajit, Mayang Imphal AC BJP MLA Kongkham Robindro, Yaiskul AC BJP MLA Thokchom Satyabrata, Sekmai AC BJP MLA Heikham Dingo, Konthoujam AC BJP MLA Dr Sapam Ranjan, Jiribam AC independent MLA Ashab Uddin, Chingai AC NPF MLA Khashim Vashum, Phungyar AC NPF MLA K Leishiyo and Tamei AC NPF MLA Awangbow Newmai.
Congress party/MLAs submitted representations to the Governor followed by a petition at the High Court of Manipur seeking disqualification of the 12 MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries after the Supreme Court issued a ruling in 2016 which categorically stated that appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries was unconstitutional.