The All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) on Thursday appealed to the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) to exempt the judiciary, including the functioning of the Manipur High Court and district courts, from the ongoing agitation, as has been done for other essential services.
Talking to the media, AMBA representatives said the Bar Association has continued providing legal services during the prevailing crisis, particularly to people arrested in connection with the ongoing agitation. They urged the JFD to ensure that judicial proceedings are not disrupted.
Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani, meanwhile, expressed concern over the delay in appointing the required number of judges to the Manipur High Court.
He said the High Court currently has only three judges against the sanctioned strength, with two posts yet to be filled, and that more than 6,300 cases are pending due to the shortage of judges.
Mani said the Supreme Court Collegiums had approved the appointment of judges to the Gauhati High Court while the Manipur High Court continued to face a shortage of judges, describing the situation as “step-motherly treatment” of Manipur.
He stressed that the effective functioning of the judiciary was particularly important in a state facing a prolonged crisis and said strengthening the judicial system was essential to addressing and resolving the situation.