SC issues disposal notice of Manipur Parliamentary Secretary case on July 26; Congress waits eagerly

IMPHAL: The Supreme Court of India has fixed a date to dispose of the matters related to the disqualification of 12 MLAs who were appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries in Manipur on the ground of an 'office of profit'.

The date has been fixed for July 26.

Manipur Congress MLA D.D. Thaisii has filed a writ petition against the Election Commission of India regarding disqualification of 12 MLAs on the ground of an 'office of profit' and another SLP filed before the Supreme Court.

As legislature members, MPs and MLAs can hold the government accountable for its works. If legislators, holding an 'office of profit' under the government, fail to discharge their constitutional power fairly, and might be susceptible to the influence of the government, they may be disqualified under the office of profit law.

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Although the law does not clearly define what constitutes an office of profit it can be interpreted to be a position that brings to the office-holder some personal gains or advantage.

The hearing was held before the bench of Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice Aniruddha Bose.

"The case has been going for the last seven months now. Now that a final date has been fixed by the court we will have to wait till then and watch what the court decides," said Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, Manipur Congress spokesman, speaking to InsideNE.

"This is a very serious matter. We had moved Governor Najma Heptulla in last December, and this year, we have met the president as well," added Meitei.

As per reports, the 12 MLAs named in this case appointed as parliamentary secretaries are L Susindro (Khurai AC), N Indrajit (Kshetrigao AC), L Rameshwor (Keirao AC), Th Satyabrata (Yaiskul AC), H Dingo (Sekmai AC), Dr S Ranjan (Konthoujam AC), S Subashchandra (Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC), K Robindro (Mayang Imphal AC), Leishiyo Keishing (Phungyar AC), Khasim Vashum (Chingai AC), Awangbow Newmai (Tamei AC) and Asab Uddin (Jiribam AC).

Earlier, in September last year, the Manipur High Court passed a judgment that the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances & Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2012 and the Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provision) Repealing Act 2018 are unconstitutional. The high court has also called these acts invalid.

The ECI, on the other hand, has observed that the Acts were in force when the MLAs held office and responded in favour of the MLAs when Supreme Court issued a notice to the ECI.

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