The Supreme Court of India has asked Manipur Speaker Y Khemchand and Forest & Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar to submit their reply within two weeks in connection with a disqualification case.
A petition was filed by Congress MLA Keisham Meghachandra in the Supreme Court. Manipur Congress unit said Justice will be done by the Supreme Court in the disqualification case.
Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Surya Kant gave the decision on Friday. Manipur High Court had taken strong exception to the indecision on the part of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker regarding the case though it had observed that the MLA holding a Ministerial portfolio is unconstitutional. Following the High court’s observation Keisham Meghachandra filed a petition at the Supreme Court . Th Shyamkumar was elected to 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly from Andro AC as a Congress candidate and switched over to BJP thus enabling the formation of the first BJP government in Manipur.
Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, Congress spokesperson said he felt confident that justice shall prevail and the Supreme Court of India will re-ensure the protection of our Constitution. It is a high time that due process of law must also be taken seriously besides procedures established by law he added. The test to the meaning of our true democracy, as propounded by the founding fathers of our Indian Constitution in the Constituent Assembly, can’t be bereft of justice and fairness he added.
Kapil Sibal, Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India, is the legal counsel of the petitioner. The former Additional Advocate General of Uttarakhand & Senior Advocate of Allahabad High Court S. G. Hasnain is also a legal counsel, who had argued for the matter against the Speaker of Manipur and others in Manipur High Court. (UNI)
