A division bench of the High Court of Manipur will decide on Monday whether the batches of writ petitions for Manipur Lokayukta and MSPCL will be heard by a Division Bench or a Single Bench.
A single bench of the High Court of Manipur justice Ahanthem Bimol on Friday considered that it will be just and proper to take up the four writ petitions of Manipur State Power Company Limited (MSPCL) filed before the court be considered on Monday for passing an interim order.
The single bench on Friday heard the writ petitions of MSPCL filed by Thokchom Bimol, Thokchom Kaminimohan, N Sarat challenging Manipur Lokayukta recommendation in connection with the alleged misappropriation of a huge amount of money in MSPCL.
Counsel M Rarry submitted that the office of the Lokayukta, Manipur has preferred a writ appeal for referring the writ petitions to be heard by a larger bench of the court. As the appeal is coming up before the Division Bench of the court on Monday for consideration and passing necessary orders, the counsel prayed before the court for deferring the hearing of the writ petitions till Monday.
On the other hand, the senior counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that urgent hearing of these writ petitions and consideration of the prayer for passing interim order is required. It was submitted that if the government took up any adverse action against the petitioners before hearing of the writ petitions, the petitioners will be adversely affected.
Senior counsel urged the court to pass an interim order for protecting the rights and interest of the petitioners.
Government advocate H Debendra submitted before the court the copies of the letters dated April 13 and 18 of the state deputy secretary (Power) addressed to the managing director (MSPCL), Manipur and deputy registrar, Manipur Lokayukta. The copies respectively informed that the government has terminated the contractual engagement of general manager (MSPCL) Thokchom Kaminimohon Singh, and general manager (MSPCL) Manoharmayum Budhachandra Sharma on April 12 from the date their contractual engagement ends.
However, in respect of N Sarat Singh, the matter regarding allowing him to function as the managing director of MSPCL has been placed to the higher authorities for taking a decision, and the competent authorities have decided to place the matter before the cabinet for taking a decision, and the decision of the cabinet will be communicated accordingly.
The court while hearing the submission enquired as to whether any new development pursuant to the letters have occurred subsequently, but Government advocate submitted that he has not received any instruction till today from the government regarding any development after the letter.
After considering the submissions, the court observed that it will be just and proper to take up the writ petitions for consideration of the prayer for passing interim order on April 25 as the government has not taken any adverse action against the petitioners on the basis of the recommendation made by the Manipur Lokayukta.
