Meghachandra files petition against Y Khemchand
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 20 2022:
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Manipur Legislative Assembly MLA K Meghachandra has filed a petition for 'breach of privilege and contempt of the house' against RD&PR minister Yumnam Khemchand for his statement against the PAC chairman on December 13 .
In his petition, MLA Meghachandra said that issuing critical statement against a member of the Legislative Assembly or its Committee in the media is breach of privilege and contempt of House.
No member can disclose proceedings of a House Committee to the public.
The statement made by the RD&PR minister against him for his inspection visit of some PMGSY road projects is akin to causing disturbance in the functioning of the member of the Legislative Assembly as well as the PAC.
It hurts the dignity and rights of the chairman and all the members of the committee, he said.
The statement made by minister Khemchand was published in most of the major newspapers of the state in which the latter accused Congress party of attempting to take political mileage.
Inspecting PMGSY roads in the interest of the public is not an act of taking political mileage.
He simply performs his duty as an MLA and a Congress leader along with his party workers.
There were some allegations and counter allegations over the issue.
However, his inspection was not related with the PAC and nobody can interfere in exercising his duties and rights, explained the Congres MLA.
While pointing out that as a member of the state legislature, he carried out his duty in complete understanding of provisions of the Constitution, Maghachandra also asserted that he has every right to monitor and analyse utilisation of public accounts and public money, and report the finding to the public.
There is no reason to prevent contempt proceedings against the minister for his remark on social media in which the minister claimed of having good progress in PMGSY Phase-2 projects while charging Congress of trying to mislead the public to tarnish the image of the Biren government, the Congress leader said, while praying for taking up appropriate actions against the minister.