IMPHAL, January 20: The High Court of Manipur has directed State government authorities to file their replies on a Public Interest Litigation case filed against the ongoing construction of the Temporary Market Shed by blocking off the Thangal Bazar Road.
The High Court has instructed the authorities to file their replies within two weeks on the PIL filed by four residents of Thangmeiband.
Senior advocate Khaidem Mani who is representing the petitioners called a press conference today in connection with the PIL at the office building of the All Manipur Bar Association inside the Uripok Chierap Court Complex.
He said the PIL was filed before the court on January 19.
The petitioners are Maisnam Jeeten Singh, 40, son of M Lalji Singh of Thangal Bazar, Chunjanglung Phaomei, 47, son of Khangbamlung Phaomei of Thangal Bazar, Mutum Rajendro Singh, 70 of Lalambung Makhong and Kabrambam Dalinkumar Singh, 57, son of (L) K Thoiba Singh of Thangmeiband kabrambam Leikai.
The respondents are The State of Manipur represented by the Chief Secretary, government of Manipur, commissioner (MAHUD) government of Manipur, chief engineer PWD, SP Imphal West and Imphal Municipal Corporation through its executive officer.
The PIL said that the January 4 earthquake damaged Ima Market No 2 and No 3 displacing their women vendors. Following the damage of the markets, the IMC executive officer on January 7 had issued a notification stating that temporary arrangements will be made at the earliest to accommodate the displaced vendors at the space reserve for public parking north of the existing Temporary Market, it said.
On the contrary, on January 7, some un-authorised persons blocked Thangal Bazar at its southern mouth and the Kasturi Junction, it continued.
After the fencing was constructed without any permission from the concerned government authorities, construction of the temporary market was initiated at Thangal Bazar, it said.
Such construction by un-authorised persons without any permission from the authorities will only make Khwairamband Keithel more congested. Thangal Bazar is already one of the busiest streets, it said.
The petition further said that the temporary market could be constructed at the site selected by the IMC or else inside the Kangla or the Hao Keithel, Old Assembly Road or Inter-State Bus Terminus, Khuman Lampak.
According to Khaidem Mani, the PIL case was taken up as un-listed and not included in the cause list today. It was however, taken up by the division bench of Chief Justice LK Mohapatra and Justice Kh Nobin Singh.
The PIL case is the No 1 of 2016, he said.