No reply furnished by State Govt on PIL
HC gives time till March 23
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 21 2023: The High Court of Manipur has yet again given more time to the State Government (Till March 23) to furnish a reply against a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) filed in the Court challenging the legality of an order which prohibited publishing of books on Manipur without prior screening by a Government committee.

While the PIL in the Court was filed by senior journalist Pradeep Phanjoubam last year, it is the 3rd time the State has been given a deadline by the Court.

The Court first gave the State time till January 23 to file a reply to the PIL.

After the State's failure to file a reply, it was again given time till February 13 to file the reply.

Now, the State has time till March 23 to furnish a reply, as per the latest hearing held on February 13 .

On the day of the hearing on February 13, the Government represented by AG Lenin Hijam failed to submit the reply and sought more time.

Notably, Advocate Ngangom Junior Luwang appeared in the Court on behalf of the petitioner, Pradeep Phanjoubam.

After hearing the counsels, the High Court gave the State time till March 23 to furnish the reply.

It may be noted that the State Government had issued an order on September 13, 2022 setting up a committee which would screen books on the history, culture, tradition and geography of Manipur before publication.

The same order had prohibited publication of such books without the prior screening and approval of the committee.

Subsequently, senior journalist Pradeep Phanjoubam had filed the PIL challenging the Government order on December 19, 2022 .

Prior to filing the PIL, the senior journalist had written a letter on October 28, 2022, to the Law Minister to withdraw the Government order of September 13, 2022 .

Pradeep, in the PIL, contended that if any book or published research work leads to a false and demeaning image of Manipur, there are other legal means to seek retribution against publishers, authors and researchers to withdraw their works from the market, or to pay for damages.

The Court had first heard the PIL on December 19, 2022 and it had given the State time till January 23 to reply.

As the Government failed to give a reply and asked for more time, the Court, on January 23, ordered it to furnish a reply on February 13 and again on March 23 .

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