Khaidem Mani picks flaws in Govt policies
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 06 2022:
Senior advocate and Manipur Human Rights Commission former acting chairman Khaidem Mani has said that there is nothing in the existing law of the country which says that writers should seek prior approval for publishing books and accordingly the government's order directing writers to take approval from a government constituted committee before publishing books related to history, geography, culture and tradition of the state is illegal and unconstitutional.
Addressing media persons on Thursday at his Loklaobung residence, Mani said that the government should study carefully about legality of an order before issuance of the same.
If an already published book happens to affect a community or wrongly interpret history, tradition and culture, then the book can be banned by lodging an FIR under IPC Section 124A, 153A, 153B, 292, 293 and 295A while the writer, publisher or editor could be arrested.
The existing law has enough provision for penalising writers who commit crime, he said, adding that an executive order could not suppress the freedom of speech and expression of human beings.
According to Khaidem Mani, an individual has the right to speak vociferously in a public academic discourse if the outcry does not fall under defamation or contempt of court.
The individual could also challenge academically and give answer if the outcry did not fall under reasonable restriction by organising a new public discourse, he said, adding that it is illegal to take action against an individual merely for speaking out his mind.
Mani said that government must consult its own legal advisor and law commissioner before issuing an order.
Khaidem Mani further said that Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 still exists though people consider that the Act has gone.
A government cannot abolish an Act and abolition of an Act can only be done by an assembly session, he pointed out while adding that the government decided to make changes under the provisions of the Act as per amendment made in 2018.On the circulation of a draft related to Liquor Regulation Policy on the social media, Khaidem Mani said the draft policy lacks fairness as the two words Regulation and Policy cannot be used together in a government order as per law.