Don't misuse law, Court tells police
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 09 2022:
The High Court of Manipur has instructed the state police not to misuse the law with regard to a petition filed against an FIR registered by Porompat PS under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.On Wednesday, a hearing of the criminal petition, filed by Khangjrakpam Phajaton and others mentioning the officer in-charge of Porompat PS as respondent, was conducted in the court of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar via video conferencing.
According to the petition, Porompat PS took up a suo moto case over a press release issued by Youths For The Protection of Human Rights, Imphal East on April 1, 2020 .
The press release appealed to the government to relocate the proposed quarantine centre in Langthabal Phumlou Loukol to another suitable location, as it was in violation of the Manipur State Conservation of Paddy and Wetland Act, 2014.After listening to the submissions of counsels of both parties, the Court observed that there was no evidence supporting the charge that the press release was in offence of Section 51 (B) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.The Forum only appealed to the government to relocate the proposed quarantine centre.
As such, the FIR registered by the respondent holds no merit on technical grounds.
Thus, the Court instructed the police not to misuse the law.
It further directed for a copy of the order to be forwarded to the DGP and quashed FIR no 67(4) 2020, which was taken up by Porompat PS .