52 7th MR men challenge shift order in court

Imphal, May 17: Fifty-two personnel of 7 MR today challenged the state government's order directing the shifting of the battalion to Taphou, under Senapati before the Gauhati High Court. The order to shift the battalion, at present located at Khabeishoi, was issued by the home department on May 9 last. The counsels for the petitioners pleaded before Justice H Kaminikumar Singh for quashing the government's order. One of the five contentions submitted by the petitioners was that the state government had on an earlier instance, issued an order for shifting the 1st MR to Taphou. The government had even issued another order for the movement of the personnel to the relocated site. However, some personnel of the battalion had challenged the policy of the government before the Gauhati High Court. Subsequently, the court, by an interim order dated August 23, 2001 stayed the order of the government for shifting the battalion. The petitioners have argued that while the case is still pending, the government has issued another order for the relocation of 7 MR to the same site. After hearing the submission of the petitioners, the single judge issued notice to the state's chief secretary, principal secretary home and DGP for want of records. The case is fixed for Monday for interim hearing.