IMPHAL, July 19: The Guahati High court, Imphal bench of Justice Tayenjam Nandakumar Singh has issued a notice of motion returnable within four weeks in a Writ Petition filed by Laishram Sanatombi Devi questioning the validity of OBC certificates issued by deputy commissioner, Imphal West to two individuals appointed as Sub-Inspector of Police (Female/civil) in the Manipur police department.
The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) in a statement stated that the notice of motion was issued based on a writ petition filed by Laishram Sanatombi Devi questioning the accountability of granting OBC certificates to children of grade-I or class-1 officers serving in state and central government department.
It said the petitioner had contended that the said private respondents namely Ronita Maisnam and Potsangbam Linthoingambi are daughters of Maisnam Padmeswar, Manipur judicial service grade 1 officer (now retired) and Potsangbam Manikanta Singh, Indian Police Service Officer (now retired) and at the time of issuance of the OBC certificates both parents of the said respondents were in service.
She further mentioned that since Ronita Maisnam and Potsangbam Linthoingambi happen to be children of class-1 officers serving in the respective government departments, they both come within the ambit of creamy layers category, it said.
Moreover it further mentioned that the duo (Ronita and Lingthoingambi) were selected and appointed as Sub Inspector of Police (Female/civil) in the Manipur Police on the basis of illegal or invalid OBC certificates issued by the deputy commissioner, Imphal West.
The statement reminded that as per the office memorandum issued by the ministry of personnel and training, government of India, it is thereby stated that son(s) and daughters(s) of parent(s) serving in the state and central government departments whose positional or designated status is in the category of grade-1 or class-1 is/are exempted from claiming OBC certificates as the said son (s) and daughter (s) come within the ambit of creamy layer of category.
The single bench Justice Tahenjam Nandakumar Singh issued the said notice of motion after hearing the submission of the counsel or the petitioner Laimayum Sevananda Sharma, advocate of Human Rights Law Network, Manipur, it said.
It further informed that the respondents listed in the petition include, the state of Manipur through the commissioner (home) to the government of Manipur, the director general of police, department of police, the deputy commissioner, Imphal West district, Ronita Maisanam and Potsangbam Linthoingambi Devi.