IT News
Imphal, April 29:
In a pivotal development regarding the legal matters of the All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA), the High Court of Manipur has today issued a formal notice in a contempt petition filed against the Registrar of Societies, Government of Manipur.
The petition was heard by the Justice Aribam Guneshwar Sharma, with Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani, supported by Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh, representing the petitioner, Oinam Bijoychandra Singh, a senior AMBA member and practicing advocate.
The contempt petition stems from allegations of willful non-compliance with a prior order passed by the High Court on March 13, 2025. The order directed the Registrar of Societies to complete an audit of AMBA’s financial records for the period from 2019 to 2025 and submit the audit report by April 10, 2025. The purpose of this audit was to ensure transparency and compliance in the financial management of AMBA and to facilitate the timely conduct of elections for its executive committee.
Despite the clear and explicit directive from the High Court, the Registrar of Societies failed to complete and submit the required audit report within the specified deadline. This delay has had a significant impact, reportedly hindering the process of conducting AMBA’s elections, thereby raising concerns about the failure to adhere to judicial orders and the potential disruption of the association’s democratic processes.
The High Court, after hearing the arguments presented by the petitioner, has issued a notice to the Registrar of Societies, who is the alleged contemner in the case. The notice is returnable on May 19, 2025, when further proceedings will take place.
This case has sparked considerable interest within legal circles, as it underscores the importance of complying with judicial orders and highlights the broader implications for the autonomy and functioning of the All Manipur Bar Association. The outcome of the case will be closely monitored by the legal community, as it could set a precedent for accountability and adherence to court orders in future administrative matters involving professional bodies.