Imphal, September 21 2010: Ruling that the Deputy Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur has committed contempt of Court, a Single Bench of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal has directed the officer to appear before the Court on September 27.The Single Bench of Justice Ashok Potsangbam has issued an order in this regard today after hearing a writ petition filed in connection with the murder of the then SDO of Kasom Khullen, Dr Thingnam Kishan and his two sub-ordinate staff.

Contending that then DC of Ukhrul Pankaj Kumar Pal was one of the conspirators in the murder of his son, Thingnam Surendra Singh, father of late Dr Kishan, filed the writ petition on March 25 last praying for registering an FIR case against Pankaj for necessary investigation.

Acting on the writ petition, the Court on May 10 last issued notices to the respondents which include State of Manipur (represented through Chief Secretary), DGP Manipur, SP Ukhrul and OC Ukhrul Police Station.

Accordingly, the respondent no.1 filed an affidavit on August 16 last.

The affidavit was duly sworn by Deputy Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur Th Amalkumar.

Quoting paragraph 4 (1) of the said affidavit, the Court ruling maintained that it gives an impression that the notice was issued on the misrepresentation of the petitioner when the truth is that the May 10 last notice issued to the respondents had been issued at the request of Government Advocate who appeared on behalf of the Government respondents.

The paragraph 4 (1) of the affidavit contended that the petitioner is not only guilty of gross misrepresentation and suppression of material facts but has also misled the court to cause issuance of the notice against the respondents, and on this ground alone, the writ petition ought to be dismissed.

However, today's ruling said that the Court is of the tentative view that the officer who has sworn the affidavit has committed contempt of this court.

Accordingly, the court has directed the officer to before it on September 27 and to explain as to why this kind of unfounded allegations have been made against the court without verifying the records.

It is also surprising to note that the affidavit has not been prepared by any Government Advocate.

Therefore, the only conclusion is that the affidavit has been prepared by the officer himself, the court order added.

It may be recalled here that Dr Thingnam Kishan, who was then the SDO of Kasom Khullen and his two subordinate staff namely, Revenue Mandal Yumnam Token and driver Aribam Rajen have been abducted by armed cadres of NSCN (IM) from Ukhrul on February 13, 2009 and were found brutally murdered near Taphou Kuki village in Senapati district in the morning of February 17.In connection with its investigation into the incident, CBI has already submitted chargesheet.

Self-styled Lt Col Hopeson Ningshen of NSCN (IM) who is the mastermind behind the abduction and subsequent brutal murder has been lodged in Tihar Jail as an under-trial prisoner (UTP).

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