AMBA decries infrastructure, manpower shortage Judiciary subjugated : Kh Mani
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 02 2014: The All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) has voiced strong resentment against acute manpower and infrastructure shortage at the High Court of Manipur, District and Session Courts and other subordinate Courts.

AMBA president Khaidem Mani said that the Judiciary is being subjugated by the Legislature and Executive in the State.

Speaking to media persons at his Cheirap Court complex office today, Mani said that at the time of setting up High Court, Manipur, AMBA demanded appointment of five Judges while the High Court Bar Association insisted on seven.

But the High Court was set up with the post of four Judges.

Out of the four posts of Judges entitled to the High Court of Manipur, there are only two Judges at present.

The present Chief Justice is acting Chief Justice.

A pic of the Manipur High Court

AMBA submitted a memorandum to the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice ad Law Minister highlighting the deficit in the number of Judges for High Court of Manipur on March 10 this year.

But no response has been received till date.

There is also acute shortage of staff at the District and Session Courts of Manipur East, Manipur West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Senapati.

For proper functioning of a District and Session Judge Court, 85 staff are required.

At the least there should be 59 staff.

But there are only 16 staff at Thoubal, 14 at Bishnupur and 11 at Senapati, Mani said.

There is no Librarian at the District and Session Judge Court, Manipur West since 1990 .

Likewise, the fast track Court has been suffering from shortage of staff.

Even as the Court has been made permanent, the Judge is still appointed under ad-hoc arrangement.

There are less than 50 per cent of the requisite staff at lower Courts like the Courts of CJMs and JMICs.

This is one factor for these Courts to take protracted period in disposing a case.

The Government should look into and effectively address these grievances without undue delay.

If necessary, AMBA would take up legal action, said Advocate Mani.

The road connecting Naoremthong to Imphal West DC office and other roads leading to Court complexes are in very bad shape, Mani said while appealing to the Government to repair these roads in the interest of public.

AMBA vice-president Advocate Y Priyokumar said that for democracy to be more meaningful, the judicial system must be strengthened.

But the existing condition of the High Court of Manipur and lower Courts is rather disappointing.

It has been almost two years since no regular Judge was appointed for the special Court of NDPS, said AMBA executive member Advocate S Shyamcharan.

Most of the Public Prosecutors of the NDPS fast track Court and District Session Judge Court which were specifically set up to deal with drug related issues and crimes against women were appointed on contract basis.

There is only one regular Public Prosecutor and two regular Additional Public Prosecutors in the whole State, Shyamcharan said.