IMPHAL, April 25: The respondents of the PIL case filed against the five Parliamentary Secretaries of the state have filed affidavits with the court regarding the matter of the appointment of five Congress MLAs in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly as Parliamentary Secretaries by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, following a PIL filed by Dr Khomdom Lisham.
The respondents of PIL case No 10 of 2012 filed on November 7, 2012 with Dr Khomdon Lisam as petitioner are The State of Manipur represented by the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur, Imphal as Respondent number 1; The Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Imphal as respondent number two; The Principal Secretary (Finance), Govt. of Manipur as the third respondent; The Secretary to the Chief Minister, CM Secretariat as the fourth; the Deputy Secretary (law), Govt. of Manipur as the fifth respondent; Keisam Meghachandra Singh, Manipur Legislative Assembly and Mairembam Prithibiraj Singh, Victor Keising, Vungzagin Valte and Md. Amin Shah as the remaining other respondents.
Of 10 respondents of the PIL case, respondents who have filed their affidavits with the Manipur High Court are Respondent No. 1. the State of Manipur represented by the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur, No 3. the Principal Secretary (Finance), Govt of Manipur, Imphal, No. 4.the secretary to the chief Minister, CM Secretariate, Imphal, Manipur and Respondent No. 5, the Deputy Secretary (Law), Govt. of Manipur, Imphal.
According to a source, the affidavits being filed by the four respondents were through Y. Romeshchandra, Secretary (Law), Govt. of Manipur.
It may be mentioned that the court served show cause notices to respondents who are related to the petition following the first hearing of the case on January 17 and the response was being awaited. Though there is a total of 10 respondents for the case and the MLAs appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries had filed their affidavits,the main respondents had not filed their affidavits.
Today respondents filed affidavits following the filing of another petition by the petitioner Dr. Khomdon Singh Lisam on April 18 to stay the order issued by the Govt. of Manipur on October 6, 2012 regarding the appointment of five MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries with the court passing an interim order while the final judgement of the case is being awaited.