Imphal, August 01 2009: Lawyers of Manipur Saturday marched on the streets in Imphal on the fifth day of cease work strike launching under the banner of the High Court Bar Association, Manipur and All Manipur Bar Association.

Lawyers are undergoing cease work strike since July 28 last decrying undue interference from militants in the ongoing construction work of the High Court complex with a the target of completion by February next year 2010 .

Today, as a part of the protest, hundreds of lawyers marched a silent protest rally starting from district court complex (Cheirap court) upto Gauhati High Court Complex, Imphal Bench, North AOC.

The rally started at about 11.30 am carried various slogans denouncing the interference given in the construction of the High Court Complex at Chingmeirong, Imphal as a part of the Capitol project.

The construction works of the complex has been suspended since the first week of July last.

They also submitted memorandums to the state Governor and chief minister drawing their attention drawing attention to look into the matter and direct the state authorities for taking appropriate steps for completion of the construction of the high court building and other structures as soon as possible.

Later talking to media persons, spokesperson of the High Court Bar Association, advocate N Kumarjit, pointed out that Indian Constitution has provisions for setting up High Court in each State and accordingly the foundation stone for construction of the High Court complex of the State was laid on April 30, 2006 at Chingmeirong.

However, he said due to interference by some underground elements hard pressure the construction of the Court complex was forced to stop the work.

Officials of the construction company have also starting fleeing from Manipur.

It is really an unfortunate thing he said reiterating that the construction of this high court building at Chingmeirong is discontinued effecting from July 10 due to extortion demands served by the underground outfits.

He also expressed fear of delay in the existence of a high court for Manipur as a result of the interference.

Citing that high court and other subordinate courts are the institution of all section of people, Kumarjit adding hundreds and hundreds of habeas corpus petitions challenging the detention order under the National Security Act, 1980 involving members of various lawful and unlawful organizations are pending in the high court, Imphal bench.

This is because of not having a separate high court, he added.

Comment