IMPHAL, February 23: In continuation of the case hearing against MLA of 27-Moirang Assembly Constituency Mairembam Prithviraj Singh who is also the Parliamentary Secretary (Youth Affairs & Sports, Tourism) in the High Court of Manipur, counsel of the petitioner gave further statement before the court today.
The Election Petition Case No 1 of 2012 charged the MLA of filing ‘’false’’ education qualification in the election affidavit. In the election affidavit submitted to the concerned Returning Officer (RO), the Parliamentary Secretary claimed to have passed MBA course.
Proceeding of the case’s ‘’Final Argument’’ in the Bench of Justice N Kotishwar began yesterday wherein counsel of the petitioner Senior Advocate Naorem Kumarjit Singh gave statement.
The counsel’s statement on the case’s ‘’Final Argument’’ completed today. He was assisted by junior advocate P Tamphamani Singh.
Subsequently, counsel of the respondent of the case Advocate H Ishwarlal will give his statement before the court from tomorrow. If the counsel’s statement is long then it will be continued following next day for completion.
It may be recalled that MLA Prithviraj had contested in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election held in 2012 from INC’s ticket. The election petition case against him was filed in the court by Pukhrem Sharatchandra who had faced the MLA in the election.
As the case was kept pending for long in the court, the petitioner filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court pleading for early disposal of the case.
Acting on the SLP, the apex court in its judgement passed on October 1, 2015 directed the High Court of Manipur to give early disposal of the case within this month of February.
It may be mentioned two witnesses from the respondent’s side were cross-examined in the court in connection with the case hearing. The two witnesses are Philem Shamu Singh who was the MLA’s election agent and Advocate Ch Bimolchandra Singh.
The election agent confessed before the court that the MLA is not a MBA degree holder as claimed so by the latter in the election affidavit. In his cross-examination, the advocate had stated that as per the election agent, the submission of the MLA’s election qualification in the election affidavit, claiming as a MBA degree holder was done.
