IMPHAL, May 20: Admitting a PIL filed against the appointment of 12 Parliamentary Secretaries by the BJP-led coalition Government, a single bench of High Court of Manipur comprising of Justice N Kotiswar has directed the State Government to respond to the PIL within five weeks.
The PIL was filed by RK Joysana through his counsel M Hemchandra against the State Government represented by Chief Secretary, Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Principal Secretary/Commissioner/Secretary (Finance), Secretary to the Chief Minister, CM Secretariat and Secretary (Law) as official respondents. The PIL prayed before the Court for issuing a writ in the nature of certiorari/mandamus/prohibition or any other appropriate writ/directions/orders directing the respondents to quash and set aside the impugned Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2012.
It further prayed for issuing a writ directing the respondents to quash and set aside the impugned notification issued on March 23 last for appointment of 12 Parliamentary Secretaries having the rank and status of Ministers of State in view of the fact and circumstance of the petition.
The PIL also prayed for giving direction to the respondents to quash and set aside the impugned notification issued on March 24 last for allocation of portfolio/Department and pass any order/writ/direction which the Court deems fit and proper in view of the fact and circumstance of the petition which was listed before the Court yesterday as case number 9 of 2017.
Advocate Shyam Sharma assisting RS Reisang, senior Government advocate accepted notice on behalf of the respondent number 1, 3, 4 and 5 while advocate Nilachandra accepted notice on behalf of the respondent number 2.
The Court has set June 28 as the date for hearing of the case. It may be mentioned that the PIL was filed questioning the legislative competence and the Constitutional validity of The Manipur Parliamentary Secretary (Appointment, Salary and Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2012.
Source: The Sangai Express
