Can't replace normal session: Joy
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 22 2023:
Veteran politician and former Law & Legislative Affairs Minister Okram Joy has stated that short-notice or emergency Assembly session cannot replace normal session.
Speaking to media persons at his Kakwa residence today, O Joy pointed out that the Assembly session scheduled on August 29 is a short-notice or emergency session and it cannot replace normal session.
The emergency or special session scheduled on August 29 can thwart a constitutional crisis in the State to some extent but it would not serve the people's interest, Joy opined.
He said that there would not be any time or opportunity for discussion of different other issues that may be raised by the Members in public interest as the session is a short-notice or emergency session.
The short-notice or emergency session cannot replace the normal session which will lapse on September 2, he said.
It is unnatural to either prepone or postpone a scheduled session of a State Assembly or the Parliament, Joy remarked.
In the midst of tense situation arising out of the Indo-Naga peace talk in 2002 when O Ibobi was the Chief Minister, an emergency session of the State Assembly was held.
"At that time, a proposal was raised to replace the Assembly's normal session with the emergency session.
I suggested that the normal session should be held in addition to the emergency session.
Subsequently, the State Assembly held its normal session too", the veteran politician recalled.
The Governor has no right to freeze the Cabinet decision which recommended holding an Assembly session on August 21, he asserted.