IMPHAL, June 1: Law and Legislative Affairs Department, Manipur consults with other Administrative Departments on the construction of Acts, Regulations and statutory rules, orders and notifications, general legal principles and advice arising out of cases, institutions or withdrawals of prosecutions. Besides, the works of the Department consist of matters for the Legislature, the Judiciary, and the legal practitioners.
According to a press release issued by DIPR, on Legislature front, the department enacted 137 Acts during the last 14 years from the year 2002 to 2015. Following new State laws may be named other than the amendments The Kangla Fort Act, 2004; The Manipur Value Added Tax Act, 2004;The Manipur Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2005; The Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act, 2006; The Manipur Public Servants’ Personal Liability Act, 2006; The Manipur Commission for Other Backward Classes Act, 2006; The Manipur State Commission for Women Act, 2006; The Manipur Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2008; The Manipur Medical Council Act, 2009; The Manipur Municipality Community Participation Act, 2010; The Manipur State Commission for the Scheduled Tribes Act, 2014; The Manipur Public Service Commission (Additional Functions) Act, 2014; The Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014; The Manipur University of Culture Act, 2015 and The Manipur Anatomy Act, 2015.
On the Judiciary front, a long cherished dream of the people of Manipur for a separate High Court of the State of Manipur came true on March 23, 2013. The High Court of Manipur was established with a sanctioned strength of four Judges including the Chief Justice.
The High Court Complex at Mantripukhri was started as one of the components of the Capital Complex with the foundation stone laid on April 30, 2006 by the then Chief Justice of India Justice Y.K. Sabharwal on a land, measuring now about 30 acres of land allotted for the complex, with captivating scenic beauty of hills covered by growing pine trees at the background and a serene sky for the Judiciary, the release said.
Upon completion of the construction of the Complex, it was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on December 3, 2011.
It said following the establishment of the own High Court of the State, the State Government had allotted land at Nepali Basti, Pangei for construction of the State Judicial Academy complex.
The State Government lifted the Subordinate Judiciary too with a vision to establish a District & Sessions Court to each revenue districts of the State of Manipur. From the earlier state of having only two District & Sessions Courts for a long period, the number of District & Sessions Courts has been increased to seven from the year 2013.
On July 19, 2013, Thoubal District got its own District and Sessions Court in the revenue district itself. All cases in the jurisdiction of Thoubal District had since then been transferred from the erstwhile combined jurisdiction at the then District & Sessions Court, Manipur West to the District & Sessions Court at Thoubal.
Soon thereafter, on September 14, 2013, District Bishnupur had got its own District & Sessions Court at Bishnupur. The State Government ventured the establishments of the District & Sessions Court in the revenue districts by improving upon the Court buildings so that one Court of District & Sessions Judge, one Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate/Civil Judge (Sr Division) and one Court of Judicial Magistrate/Civil Judge (Jr Division) sit in a compact District Court Building with rooms for the staff etc besides the facilities made available for the lawyers and litigants etc.
All the District Court Complexes have been further equipped with solar panels over and above the power supply so that the Courts can function smoothly without interruption in the power supply vis-à-vis the computer works.
On January 11, 2014, District Senapati got its own District & Sessions Court at Senapati thus opening another chapter in the Subordinate Judiciary system. Since the establishment of the District & Sessions Court at Senapati, people of Senapati District have had the convenience of getting the justice in respect of the disputes within the jurisdictions of the District & Sessions Court.
The District & Sessions Courts have been conferred, in addition, to exercise the powers and functions of Special Courts/Special Judge under various Special Laws, namely, as Special Court (Electricity) under Electricity Act, 2003, Motor Accident Claims Tribunal under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Special Court (POCSO) under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, Children’s Court under Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, Designated Court under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, and as Special Judge under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Special Judge (ND&PS) under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 besides as Family Court under the Family Courts Act, 1984.
The release maintained that on October 29, 2014, the District & Sessions Court, Churachandpur was opened in the District Churachandpur adding another feather to the improvement of the district subordinate judiciary system.
In the beginning of the current year, on January 16, 2016, District Ukhrul had also got its District & Sessions Court at Ukhrul. The efforts of the State Government continue to open early one District & Sessions Court each for the two remaining Districts of Chandel and Tamenglong.
Besides, one Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class & Civil Judge (Junior Division) has been opened at Moreh on September 21, 2013.
In addition, the Law & Legislative Affairs Department is the nodal administrative Department for the State Election Commission. During the last 14 years, the successful conduct of General Elections in the years 2010 and 2015, to elect 1 member each for the 144 constituencies of 6 Autonomous District Councils of Senapati, Sadar Hills, Ukhrul, Chandel, Churanchandpur and Tamenglong with each ADC comprising of 24 Constituencies, may be mentioned.
The Department had enlarged scope for the legal practitioners in various ways. The number of State Counsels has been increased by adding one Additional Government Advocate-cum-Additional Public Prosecutor each to the newly established District & Sessions Courts at Thoubal, Bishnupur, Senapati, Churachandpur and Ukhrul.
It added that a number of panel lawyers have been made for each District after consultation with the District Magistrates and District & Sessions Judges.