Imphal, August 01 2009: The cease work strike undertaken by the High Court Bar Association Manipur and the All Manipur Bar Association has been suspended temporarily from today.

The cease work strike was launched since July 28 protesting against interference in the construction of High Court complex.

Together with the cease work strike, lawyers staged protest demonstrations at High Court, Imphal Bench complex on July 28 and 29 followed similar protest sittings at Cheirap Court complex on July 30 and 31 .

Continuing with their agitation, the lawyers took out a protest rally from Cheirap Court complex to High Court Imphal Bench complex today.

They also submitted memoranda to the Governor and the Chief Minister.

Later speaking to media persons at High Court complex, spokesperson of the High Court Bar Association Manipur and the All Manipur Bar Association, Naorem Kumarjit said that the people of Manipur having been facing several difficulties due to the absence of a High Court in the State.

Recalling that lawyers have been demanding establishment of a separate High Court for Manipur since 1972, Kumarjit said that the Chief Justice of India laid the foundation stone for High Court building on April 30, 2006 at Chingmeirong.

However, construction of the building has been completely halted since July 10 .

Elaborating on the need for having a separate High Court, Kumarjit said that among the North Eastern States, maximum number of cases registered at Gauhati High Court came from Manipur after Assam.

There are certain cases which should be applied directly to the High Court.

Challenging detention of a particular individual under NSA should be done at High Court.

Such cases cannot be filed at any other subordinate court, he elaborated.

Saying that advisory authority to subordinate courts rests with the High Court, Kumarjit observed that all preparations to establish separate High Courts for Meghalaya and Tripura have been already completed although they attained statehood at the same time as Manipur.

The Chief Minister has assured that construction of High Building would be completed by December this year, the spokesperson conveyed.

Regretting the inconveniences caused to litigants during the cease work strike, Kumarjit clarified that the decision to suspend the cease work strike was taken in the interest of the public.

However, the same course of agitation may be launched any time in case there is further interference/interruption to construction of High Court building, Kumarjit added.

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