HC admits writ against PSs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 18 2018:
MLA of Khangabok AC, Okram Surjakumar has filed a writ petition before the High Court of Manipur, challenging the recently passed Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Repeal Act 2018.The Division Bench admitted the writ petition challenging the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Repeal Act 2018 and issued notice to all the MLAs (respondents of the filed writ petition) who had held the post of Parliamentary Secretaries, to reply within four months.
The writ petition challenged the Manipur Gazette notification issued on April 4 which stated that the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2012, has been repealed.
The notice informed that the repeal of the Act would not affect any previous operations duly done in official discharge of their duties by the Parliamentary Secretaries and that the repeal would not affect any right, privilege or obligation incurred under the repealed Act.
The Act empowered the State Government to appoint Parliamentary Secretaries as evidenced by the incumbent State Government exercising the same Act and appointing 12 Parliamentary Secretaries last year.
The writ petition filed by MLA Okram Surjakumar, and three other PILs filed in connection with the Parliamentary Secretary Act were listed together before the Division Bench High Court of Manipur today.
The Court heard the submission of the Advocate General High Court of Manipur and the counsel of the petitioners and fixed May 4 for the next hearing.
It may be mentioned that on the last hearing of the writ petition on April 5, N Kumarjit (AG) had categorically stated that there are no Parliamentary Secretaries in the State and submitted a State Gazette notification issued the previous day (April 4) which said that the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2012 had been repealed.
It may be mentioned that the writ petition filed by the two Congress MLAs, Okram Surjakumar and DD Thaisii, praying for declaring the impugned Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2012 as unconstitutional and to quash the same, was admitted by the High Court of Manipur on February 14.The 12 MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries by the present BJP State Government are Khurai BJP MLA, Leishangthem Susindro alias Yaima, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa BJP MLA, Soibam Subhaschandra, Keirao A/C BJP MLA, Lourembam Rameshwor, Kshetrigao A/C BJP MLA, N Indrajit, Mayang Imphal BJP MLA, Kongkham Robindro, Yaiskul A/C BJP MLA, Thokchom Satyabrata, SekmaiA/C BJP MLA, Heikham Dingo, Konthoujam A/C BJP MLA Dr Sapam Ranjan, Jiribam A/C independent MLA, Ashab Uddin, Chingai A/C NPF MLA, Khashim Vashum, Phungyar A/C NPF MLA, K Leishiyo and Tamei A/C NPF MLA, Awangbow Newmai.