AMBA decries
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 02 2014 :
The All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) has decried the presence'of only two Judges in Manipur High Court.
Speaking to media persons at his Yumnam-Leikai residence today, AMBA president Khaidem Mani said that Manipur High Court is a full fledged High Court, absence of adequate number of Judges has turned out to be serious deterrent in the High Court's functions.
Presence of only two Judges has virtually reduced the High Court to a Division Bench.
If a judgement passed by a single Judge is not satisfactory, one can appeal to Division Bench.
But in the case of Manipur High Court, one should the judgement or go to the Supreme Court.
Mani said.
A High Court functioning with only two Judges is seen nowhere else in the country.
Even Sikkim and Meghalaya have three Judges each.
As against AMBA's demand for five Judges, four posts of Judge have been sanctioned.
But only two Judges have been appointed so far.
It is the demand of AMBA to appoint the remaining two Judges against the remaining sanctioned posts from among the qualified lawyers and bar members, Advocate Mani asserted.
In the absence of a regular Chief Justice, Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra has been serving as acting Chief Justice since October 10 last year.
Questioning as to why a regular Chief Justice is not appointed till date, Khaidem Mani accused the Government of India of discriminating Manipur.
He urged the relevant authorities to appoint Judges against the two remaining sanctioned posts and make up all the shortfalls in the staff strength before Manipur High Court completes one year on March 23 .
At present the district Courts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Senapati have been functioning with just 5 to 10 staff, Commenting on the recent case of five women joining Manipur Police as Sub-Inspectors using forged sports certificates.
Khaidem Mani said that the five women would be suspended.
He also questioned why no case has been registered against the authority who appointed them The DGP who declared the DPC results cannot shirk his responsibility.
CBI should be asked to register a case and conduct an enquiry against the DPC Members.
Mani added.