Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 11:
The Principal Seat of the Gauhati High Court has fixed January 24 next year for the final hearing of the main writ petition filed by the Assam Rifles challenging the legal validity on the institution of the State sponsored Th Manorama Devi Death Inquiry Commission.
On the same the day, the Court will also hear two Misc applications - one by the Assam Rifles and the other filed by the State Government - along with the main petition.
This ruling was made by Justice SN Sharma during a Principal bench (Gauhati) sitting, said a reliable source.
The Misc Application of the Assam Rifles had challenged the recent order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal that rejected the AR's plea to allow DNA matching of the blood samples collected from the AR personnel and the semen stain found on the inner clothing of Manorama.
The State Govt's Misc Application prayed before the Court seeking permission to process the Manorama probe report by the State.
'This is in consonance with the earlier ruling of the Court' that restricted the State from publishing the inquiry report without the leave of the same Court,' said Govt advocate Thokchom Ibohal Singh, who appeared on behalf of the Govt in the present case.
The State Government had filed the Misc Application on December 9 before the same Court.
During yesterday's hearing the AR counsel urged the Court for some more time to file an affidavit-in-opposition in connection with the State's Misc case, which the Court granted.
The AR counter affidavit might be submitted before the date of the final hearings, Ibohal informed.
Retired District and Sessions Judge C Upendra Singh, who chaired the Manorama Inquiry, submitted his findings before the Government on November 22.However, the same could not be processed or tabled by the State Cabinet due to the earlier ruling of the Principal Seat.
It may be recalled that Upendra Commission, complying with an earlier ruling of the same Court had examined all the witnesses of the 17 Assam Rifles in-camera at the premises of Imphal Central Jail.