Imphal, Jul 20: A Division Bench of High Court of Manipur comprising Acting Chief Justice RR Prasad and Justice S Serto has today transferred the criminal petition case filed by former JCILPS convenor Khomdram Ratan to another Bench. The argument hearing of the case which began yesterday continued at the Court from 10.30 am today.
During the hearing, the Advocate General, who is the counsel of State respondents, told the Court that some media houses had ‘scandalised’ the case. He also pleaded the Court to take up criminal proceedings against the media houses concerned regarding the matter.
The Court however decided to continue the hearing stating that the AG could file a petition regarding his complaint. The AG then pleaded the Court to transfer the case to another Division Bench if the Court is not willing to take up criminal contempt proceedings against the media houses in question. Later, after perusing the arguments of both the sides, the Court ordered to shift the case to another Division Bench.
It may be mentioned that the Court yesterday asked the State respondents to submit the documents of police manual related to declaration of wanted tags.
The petitioner’s counsel on the other hand pleaded the Court to quash the wanted tag on Kh Ratan alleging that mandatory and necessary procedures were not followed while declaring the former JCILPS convenor as a wanted man. Meanwhile, JCILPS Women Wing volunteers today tried to storm Raj Bhavan protesting the Advocate General’s arguments. They alleged that the AG instead of submitting the documents of police manual related to the declaration of wanted tags during today’s Court hearing targeted others.
After the agitating womenfolk were stopped by CRPF personnel at Raj Bhavan gate, five selected women led by JCILPS Women Wing convenor L Nganbi were allowed to meet the Governor’s Secretary as the Governor was out of station.
