High Court quashes Manipur Speaker's order

IMPHAL, March 29: The Gauhati High Court (Imphal Bench) has quashed the February 13 order of Manipur Assembly Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy declaring former Chief Minister Nipamacha Singh and seven others as "unattached' members of the House, reports PTI. Justice JN Sharma gave the ruling on Tuesday after final hearing of the writ petition filed by Nipamacha Singh, M Kunjo (present Manipur Industries Minister) and K Biren (present Civil Supply Minister). The petitioners had sought quashing of the Speaker's order on grounds that it was unconstitutional. While quashing the impugned order, the judge directed that Nipamacha Singh and the other seven MLAs should continue to be treated as MLAs of the Manipur State Congress Party. The Speaker had declared the eight MLAs as unattached members of the House following their 'explosion' from the primary membership of the MSCP for six years by the then MSCP working president TH Chaoba Singh.