Month: March 2012

Imphal, March 2 (NNN): Just few days are away for counting, the non-Congress political parties on Friday said they would form a broad based political alliance and its name will be announced soon. A meeting of non-Congress parties which started yesterday continued till today at the residential quarter of MLA V. Hangkhanlian here concluded after a marathon discussion on the formation of the next government as well as the non-Congress post-poll alliance.
The meeting decided to forge a broad based political alliance that would be named and announced at the earliest possible, Manipur State CPI secretary, Dr M. Nara told journalists after the meeting. The meeting also appointed Manipur People’s Party president, Dr Nimaichand Luwang and Manipur State Congress party (MSCP) working president, Devabrata as co-convenors and Dr M. Nara as spokesperson for the yet to be formed alliance.
Another sources said the Naga People’s Front (NPF) is not likely to tie up with the alliance but the party is supporting it.
The post-poll alliance will include the PDF, which has five parties, and CPI, MSCP, Trinamool Congress, National Political Party (NPP) and LJS, added the sources.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/non-congress-political-alliance-meeting/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Mar 2: Today, a division bench of Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench comprising of Hon’ble Mr. Justice T. Vaiphei and Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.K. Musahary has issued a notice of motion returnable within 4 weeks in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for issuance of a Writ in the nature of Quo Warranto or any other appropriate writ or order or declaration declaring that the recommendation of the Committee constituted under Section 15(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 recommending the name of Shri Ch. Birendra Singh as Information Commissioner as non-est in law and to quash his appointment as Information Commissioner, Manipur Information Commission.
The present PIL was filed jointly by (i) Shri Ayekpam Keshorjit Singh of Haobam Marak Irom Leikai, Imphal West and (ii) Smt. Mutum Maipakpi of Kongpal Mutum Leikai, Imphal East. In the said PIL the Petitioners contended that Shri Ch. Birendra Singh was working as Commissioner (Revenue), Government of Manipur and after retirement from service he was appointed as Information Commissioner, Manipur Information Commission. While he was in service he had appointed 28 LDCs in the Revenue Department, Government of Manipur illegally and as such the State Vigilance Commission has investigated into the matter and recommended for removal/termination of the said 28 LDCs in the year 2008. Thereafter, the High Powered Committee constituted under the Manipur Public Servants Personal Liability Act, 2006 has seized the matter so as to fix responsibility for causing lost of Rs. 2, 97, 87,8647- from the State Exchequer.
Further the Petitioners also contended that the Manipur Information Commission is an integrity institution. This is clear from the scope and ambit of the Right to Information Act, 2005 Act. It is an Institution which is statutorily created under the Right to Information Act, 2005. At present Shri Ch. Birendra Singh is the only surviving Information Commissioner of the Manipur Information Commission inasmuch as the term of the Chief Information Commissioner had already expired on 12th September 2011. Thus, Shri Ch. Birendra Singh is the only person responsible for the Manipur Information Commission. Thus, Shri Ch. Birendra Singh, who was involved in appointment of 28 Lower Division Clerks (LDC) illegally by using corrupt means, would jeopardize the very basic foundation of Manipur Information Commission, an integrity institution. And at the same time it hampers the functioning of the Commission and ultimately affects the information seekers, who approached the Commission for ventilating their grievances. Since most of the information seekers could not approach the Hon’ble High Court for questioning the legality of the recommendation and subsequent appointment of Shri Ch. Birendra Singh, the Petitioners have preferred the present Writ Petition in the form of Public Interest Litigation thereby questioning the legality of the recommendation and appointment based thereon of Shri Ch. Birendra Singh. Shri Laimayum Sevananda Sharma, Advocate has appeared on behalf of the Petitoner and the present PIL is filed at the active initiative of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur).

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hc-issues-notice-regarding-commissioner-rti/

Imphal, March 2 NNN : All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) today said it strongly objects the decision taken by Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct re-poll on March 4 on the first day of the week, which is a Sunday, “a day of worship.”
“We see that all the areas where re-poll has been scheduled are Christian dominated areas and that Sunday being a day of worship for the Christians, holding re-poll on the day will hamper the worship services of the church,” AMCO said.
It added, a similar case happened in 1999 when polling for Lok Sabha election in hill districts was scheduled on another Sunday (October 3, 1999) following which a case was filed by Rev. Hokey Kaikho, the then general secretary of Manipur Baptist Convention against the judgment and order dated September 17, 1999 of Chief Election Commissioner of India (Writ Appeal No. 168). And then the date for polling was later rescheduled.
AMCO also said it wonders why and how the ECI commits such blunder and act of abomination again, saying it (AMCO) feels it is because the Chief Election Commissioner of India is ignoring the feelings and the rights of the Christians. It also appealed the ECI not to repeat such unpleasant act in the future.
All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) invites views and suggestions from all the Manipur tribal leaders and citizens on various tribal issues.
AMTU general secretary, Romeo Bungdon and secretary public affairs, Wilson Gangmei on Friday said the union seeks views and suggestions from all the Manipur tribal leaders on recognition of tribal hill villages under “Revenue” as per the Confidential and Cabinet Department: vide Notification No. 3/1/77-Con (PI) dated August 10, 1999, socio-economy deviation on Manipur tribal people and catering of 200-point roster superseding 100-point roster for job appointment by the Manipur Government.
AMTU also noted that the above points are to be considered as serious matters “while furnishing your valuable wisdom, of which shall be followed by public consultation within a month for further course”.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/amco-disapproves-holding-re-poll-on-sunday/