IT News
Imphal, May 20:
The High Court of Manipur has directed the Lokayukta to stop proceeding in connection with the complaint case no. 2 of 2020 related to the MSPCL until the next high court hearing.
On February 7, 2022, the Manipur Lokayukta recommended the state government not to allow MSPCL Managing Director to continue his official position. It was recommended that the function and duties of the said post be delegated to an official designated by the state government until the investigation was completed.
The MSPCL Managing Director has challenged the Lokayukta Manipur’s recommendation dated 7.02.2022 in Manipur’s high court (under the writ petition no. 168 of 2022).
When the case is still on the court, various attempts to mislead the MSPCL as well as the Lokayukta were traced. As a result, the MSPCL had filed an additional case in the High Court, challenging the recommendation. Even the petitioner’s signatures have been discovered to be faked. Thiyam Nirosh’s signature in the complaint letter to the Manipur Lokayukta differs from his signature in the RTI application he filed with the MSPCL earlier. A mobile number 8974002604 identified by truecaller as belonging to one Manihar Sarangthem was written in a complaint application to the Manipur Lokayukta, which differed from the mobile number 9862206077 written in an RTI application.
Earlier on 28.04.2022 the Manipur Cabinet also decided that the present Managing Director of MSPCL will not be removed until the Manipur High Court rules on the pending writ petitions.
Surprisingly, the Manipur Lokayukta questioned the Manipur Cabinet’s decision. It should be noted that the Lokayukta cannot question the Manipur Cabinet’s decision because cabinet decisions are the highest decision of a state government. The Lokayukta has no authority to question Cabinet decisions.
The Manipur Lokayukta has also used delaying tactics in the hearing of the writ petitions by raising questions about whether a petition challenging a Lokayukta order should be heard by a single or double bench.
The Manipur High Court stated on its hearing dated 17.05.2022 that whether these batches of writ petitions will be heard by a Single Bench or by a Division Bench has been considered by the Division Bench today and that the Division Bench’s decision will be announced on 19-05-2022. On May 19, 2022, the Manipur High Court decided that the writ petitions could also be heard by a single bench.
During yesterday’s hearing, Justice Ahanthem Bimol of the Manipur High Court ordered the Lokayukta not to proceed with any proceedings relating to its complaint case no. 2 of 2020 until the next high court hearing.
