Court annuls MPP notification
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 02 2023:
The Court of Civil Judge, Senior Division, Imphal West has annulled a notification issued by the Manipur People's Party (MPP) where the term of its interim president was extended by six months.
Acting on a petition filed by one Khongbantabam Yaima Singh (58) of Iramsiphai Awang Leikai, Imphal West and three members of MPP, the Court passed an order on March 31 .
On the other hand, a notice issued by the MPP on February 10 extended the term of its interim president Ch Shamjai by six months.
However, the Court annulled the same notification till the next hearing fixed on April 13 .
The Court also asked the defendants to file a reply on April 13 stating whether there is any reason for not passing an ex-parte interim injunction order.
The defendants listed in the case are MPP interim president Ch Shamjai, general secretary (administration) Machang Soibam and State Returning Officer Moirangthem Sharat Singh.
ECI's Chief Election Commissioner and CEO Manipur are also listed as proforma defendants.
The petition filed by Kh Yaima prayed the Court to pass an ex-parte temporary injunction so as to nullify the notification which extended the term of the interim president by six months.
The same petition also sought annulment of the election held on March 17 where five vice-presidents, 11 working committee members, nine election committee members and five disciplinary committee members were elected.
It further sought annulment of the notification issued on February 8 this year whereby the party's vice-presidents, working committee and disciplinary committee were terminated/dissolved.
Following sharp polarisation and dissension within the party, the High Court of Manipur passed orders on January 31 and March 30, 2022 and directed the party to hold election and elect an interim president.
Subsequently, Ch Shamjai was elected interim president on April 16 last year.
As per MPP's constitution, the interim president is only authorised to convene a special delegate session in order to elect a full fledged president.
An election was scheduled on January 28 this year in order to elect a full fledged president.
But the State Returning Officer who is also a defendant of the case issued a notification on January 18 whereby the presidential election was put off.