Imphal, March 31: Adding more pitch to its demand to disqualify MLAs under Article 191 (1) (a) of the Constitution for holding offices of profit, the State BJP unit BJP today named Chief Minister O Ibobi among the list of 8 MLAs of the SPF who should be disqualified.

In a petition submitted to Governor Dr SS Sidhu, the BJP said that the Chief Minister along with the other 7 MLAs stand automatically disqualified for holding offices of profit which violate Article 191 (1) (a) of the Indian Constitution.

Apart from being the Chief Minister, O Ibobi is also the President of the Kangla Fort Board under the Kangla Fort Ordinance 2004 (Mani-pur Ordinance Number 1 of 2004), said the BJP and added that he is also the Chairman of the Manipur Film Development Corporation.

The Chief Minister is also the Chairman of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Society as well as the Chairman/President Shir Shri Govindaji Temple Board, Manipur Under the Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board Act, 1972.All these posts are offices of profit, said the BJP while seeking the disqualification of the Chief Minister.

The other 7 MLAs named in the list include MLA Bijoy Koijam (Chairman of MANITRON), MLA N Biren Singh (Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board), N Loken Singh (Chairman of Loktak Development Authority), MLA K Ranjit Singh (Chairman of PDA), MLA Y Mani Singh (Chairman of Programme Implementation Committee), DK Korungthang (Chairman of Tribal Development Corporation), Art and Culture Minister Ph Parijat (Vice President of the Kangla Fort Board).

The BJP based its petition on the earlier definitions of Office of Profit given by the Supreme Court and quoted the Sakhawat Ali Vs the State of Orissa (1955), SCR 1004; Smt Kanta Kathuria Vs Manak Chand Surana, 1969 (3) SCC 268; Shivamurthy Swami Inamdar Vs Agadi Sanganna Andanappa 1971 (3) SCC 870 and Shibu Soren Vs Dajanaud Sahay and others, (2001) 7 SCC 425.The petition argued that there is no legislation or law enacted by the Legislature of Manipur for not disqualifying the MLAs holding the said offices of profit by the 8 MLAs.

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