Cong to approach SC, again
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 02 2020:
With the three months period given by the Supreme Court to the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker's Tribunal to take a concrete decision on the disqualification case of seven Congress MLAs already expired, the Congress party is all set to approach the apex Court again.
Notably, Th Shyamkumar who was elected to the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly from Andro AC on Congress ticket was disqualified by the Speaker's Tribunal from the membership of Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 28 for violating the Constitution's 10th schedule by way of supporting the BJP-led coalition Government.
Subsequently, the State Assembly Secretary declared that the seat of Andro AC is vacant in the House.
Meanwhile, the Speaker's Tribunal has already fixed May 8 for the next round of hearing of the disqualification case filed against seven Congress MLAs who too have been supporting the BJP-led coalition Government.
The seven MLAs in question are Sanasam Bira (Kumbi AC), Ngamthang Haokip (Saitu AC), Ksh Biren (Lamlai AC), Oinam Lukhoi (Wangoi AC), P Brojen (Wangjing-Tentha AC), Y Surchandra (Kakching AC) and Ginsuanhau (Singngat AC).
Even though they have been supporting the BJP-led coalition Government, they sit on the Opposition bench.
However, there has been no formal notification about their expulsion from Congress or they have joined BJP.
Speaking to media persons at his Babupara quarters today, Congress MLA K Meghachandra said that the disqualification case of the seven MLAs is still pending at the Speaker's Tribunal.
In connection with such disqualification cases, the Supreme Court passed a landmark judgement on January 21 this year and the same judgement has been already applied in most States, Meghachandra said.
In Manipur, Th Shyamkumar has been disqualified from the membership of Manipur Legislative Assembly.
A copy of the Supreme Court's judgement was submitted to the Speaker's Tribunal on January 25, Meghachandra said.
Para 28 of the apex Court's judgement directed the Speaker's Tribunal to take a concrete decision on all pending disqualification cases including that of the seven MLAs within three months.
As such, the Speaker's Tribunal was supposed to come out with a declaration stating whether the seven MLAs have been disqualified or they are still Congress MLAs or they are no longer Congress MLAs, Meghachandra said.
Saying that the Speaker's Tribunal has not been complying with the Supreme Court's directive, Meghachandra said that the petitioners of the disqualification case have resolved to approach the apex Court again.