SC partly hears OoP case of 12 MLAs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 02 2021:
The Supreme Court has partly heard the plea related to the disqualification of 12 MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries and fixed September 7 for further hearing.
The writ petition filed by Karong AC MLA DD Thaisi was listed today before a division bench of the apex Court comprising three Judges Justice L Nageswara Rao, Justice BR Gavai and Justice BV Nagarathna at admission stage.
The SLPs filed by Okram Surjakumar and others were, however, not heard fully and September 7 has been fixed for further hearing.
The petition filed by DD Thaisi prays to give direction to the Election Commission of India and its opinion to the Governor of Manipur on the disqualification of 12 MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries for holding office of profit which the High Court of Manipur termed unconstitutional on September 18, 2020 .
The petition alleged that the Election Commission of India failed to discharge its Constitutional duty.
Earlier in February 2021, Supreme Court India issued notice to ECI regarding the matter.
Mention may be made that High Court of Manipur passed a judgement on September 18, 2020 which categorically stated that the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances & Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2012 and the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Repealing Act 2018 are unconstitutional.
The High Court also made it clear that the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Repealing Act 2018 are invalid.