Imphal, July 19: The hearing of the petition filed by former JCILPS Convenor Kh Ratan challenging the ‘Wanted’ tag on him has been deferred to another bench as the Division bench of Chief Justice RR Prasad and Justice S Serto had denied plead by the Advocate General to proceed criminal contempt against state media which carries news report of yesterday’s proceeding terming it as “scandalous” report.
The hearing which was scheduled today was strongly objected from further continuation by the Advocate general as he plead the division bench to accept criminal contempt to the media which carried the report yesterday before the hearing of the case filed by Kh Ratan continues.
Petitioner’s counsels Sr Advocate Khaidem Mani, Sr Advocate I Lalit and advocate Rakesh Meihoubam plead the division bench to proceed the hearing as the matter related to the press can be taken up aside, however, the Advocate general strongly argued as the media report had the tendency to influence the judgment.
Later after hearing the argument, the division bench deferred the hearing to another bench.
Petitioner’s counsel Advocate Khaidem Mani, while speaking to Imphal Times said that the hearing might be scheduled at another bench in the coming days. He however could not spell the date as the matter is yet to be fixed.
Petitioner’s counsels Advocate Khaidem Mani, Advocate I Lalit and advocate Rakesh Meihoubam, had yesterday argued that no proper procedures under section 82 of CrPC was not followed while proclaiming offender to Kh Ratan and that the Wanted status was announced by the police PRO through a press note in contravention of formal procedure. Replying to the argument, the respondents represented by Advocate General Thokchom Ibohal and Addl Advocate General Namoijam Ibotombi contended that the police can proclaim an individual as Wanted under CrPC 157 citing various instances from the state and outside.
