CM to lobby for High Court Bar Association (HCBA) at Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 08 2013:
Taking due note of the demand of the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) to appoint seven Judges from Manipur as and when a separate High Court for Manipur is commissioned, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has agreed to go to New Delhi together with HCBA representatives to lobby for the same demand with relevant authorities of the Government of India.
Notably, the HCBA has been under a cease work strike since November 8 last year raising the said demand.
As the State Government cannot keep quiet in the face of the prolonged agitation, Chief Minister O Ibobi held a meeting with representatives of HCBA on January 5 .
As against the demand of appointing seven Judges, the State Government conveyed that it has been urging the Government of India to appoint at least five Judges for Manipur High Court.
The Chief Minister also proposed that HCBA representatives may go with him to New Delhi and lobby for the same demand together.
However, the HCBA is not happy with the State Government's proposal of five Judges.
As such, the association would hold another meeting at 10 am on January 10 and discuss the same proposal.
It is likely that the Chief Minister may leave for New Delhi together with HCBA representatives on January 16, conveyed a source.
All the proposals/demands which would be put forth before relevant authorities of Government of India would be deliberated at the meeting scheduled on January 10 .
A well known figure of HCBA said that they have been demanding appointment of just seven Manipuri Judges out of the country's 1500 Judges.
Even if it is only five Judges, all of them must be natives of Manipur.
There is no harm if the Manipur Judges are transferred elsewhere afterward, he said.
Another source informed that Minakumar, second senior most Judge of Allahabad High Court may appointed as the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court.