Demand of HCBA is in public interest, asserts Khaidem Mani
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 11 2013: The agitation being launched by High Court Bar Association (HCBA) is in public interest and it is not a 'strike' in the real sense of the term, exclaimed advocate Khaidem Mani, who is the spokesperson of the association.

Addressing media persons at his Yumnam Leikai residence today, Khaidem Mani stated that Manipur has a highest judicial tradition even before her merger with India in 1949.But due to our ignorance and indifference, qualified members of the Bar and Bench were deprived of their proper placements in the Superior Indian Judiciary consisting of about 1500 High Court judges and this is a fact which the government of India and the State government cannot deny.

He pointed out that Manipur shall now have her own High Court like other states of India.

As such there is the need to have a minimum required numbers of Judges for proper and smooth functioning of the Court.

The required judges should be appointed from amongst the qualified members of Manipur Bar and Bench.

However, they may be transferred and posted in any other High Court of India after appointment.

"High Court is the highest State Constitutional Court and, hence, its powers must not be in any way diluted by lack of required number of Judges", he said and added that at least five judges as recommended by the state government and up to seven judges are the minimum requirement for a full-fledged State High Court.

Therefore, the HCBA is making a legitimate demand in the interest of the present and the future Manipur and it is not going on strike, he maintained.

"HCBA is fully aware that strike by advocates/lawyers is not permissible within certain specified areas in the conduct of cases, but the present demand is not a strike.

In a strike, there is always the element of Quid-Pro-Quo (give and take).

But our demand has no such elements", he contended.

Khaidem Mani further informed that a delegation of the HCBA would be leaving for Delhi to meet the Union Law Minister and the Chief Minister of Manipur since the CM is presently at Delhi.

A meeting of HCBA would also be convened on January 15 where further course of agitations would be chalked out.

He also appealed to the government of India, government of Manipur and all concerned authorities to comply with the demand of HCBA without further ado.

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