Five more MLAs get anticipatory cover against disqualification

IMPHAL, January 4: After the anticipatory protection granted to Ruling MLAs Onjamang Haokip and Md Allauddin against any disqualification order by Manipur Assembly Speaker Dhananjoy, the Gauhati High Court has extended similar protection to the five other Ruling MLAs whose disqualification cases are still pending. In a separate development, a division bench of the High Court, principal seat, has directed that the Speaker should pursue his appeal against the court's earlier judgement concerning Onjamang Haokip and Md Allauddin in a single bench of the court. According to reports from Guwahati, a single bench of the Gauhati High Court, principal seat, consisting of Justice AK Patnaik yesterday granted anticipatory protection against any disqualification ruling by the state Assembly Speaker for a period of 15 days to MLAs L Jatra Singh, S Chandra, K Tomba, Hangkhanpao and N Zatawn. Two separate orders were issued in this respect on two different petitions filed by Jatra, Chandra and Tomba on the one hand and Hangkhanpao and Zatawn on the other. Rules were also issued to the respondents returnable within six weeks in this regard. The similarly worded rulings directed that in case any order of disqualification is passed in respect of the petitioners, such order will not be given effect for a period of 15 days. The petitioners are allowed to participate in the state legislative Assembly and to exercise their voting rights during the same period. They will also be allowed to appeal to the court during this time.