The Manipur High Court’s double bench, led by Chief Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu, mandated on Monday that the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker resolve the disqualification case against the JDU MLAs who defected to the BJP.
Janata Dal (United) Secretary General Maisnam Dorendro petitioned the High Court for a writ of mandamus, compelling the Speaker to address and decide the disqualification case lodged on January 11, 2023, under Article 191(2) and paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
It is pertinent to note that five of the six JD(U) MLAs had defected to the ruling BJP. These MLAs are Khumukcham Joykishan, Ngursanglur Sanate, Mohammed Ashab Uddin, Thangjam Arunkumar, and LM Khaute.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued for the immediate disqualification of the defected legislators.
Advocate General Lenin Hijam, citing a specific paragraph from a Supreme Court decision, assured that the Speaker would address the disqualification petition within a reasonable timeframe as per the law.
The High Court accepted this assurance and ordered the adjudication of the disqualification case.
