Speaker reserves decision on disqualification of 9 MLAs

IMPHAL, July 23: The Speaker of the Manipur Assembly, Sapam Dhananjoy Singh, on Saturday reserved his decision on the disqualification of nine ruling MLAs after hearing their versions. The much-awaited hearing of the disqualification case of the nine MLAs was held in the office chamber of the Speaker on Saturday morning. The hearing began at exactly 10.10 am and concluded at 11.58 am. The office chamber of the Speaker was reportedly modified so as to make it look like a courtroom. In view of the hearing, tight security arrangements were also made in and around the Assembly complex during the hearing session. It was, however, relaxed after the end of the session. The hearing reportedly started as per the cause list served to the concerned MLAs by the Speaker on Friday afternoon. Secretary T Joute and another deputy secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly secretariat assisted the speaker during the hearing. MPP supremo and Opposition leader O Joy, who happens to be a petitioner took part in the hearing along with the respondent MLA Laishram Jatra. Both the MLAs took more than one hour in putting forward their respective arguments during the hearing, sources said. The petitioner MLA Wangkhem Basantakumar Singh and respondent ruling MLA Konsam Tomba appeared as the first petitioner and first respondent in the hearing session. Most of the respondents and petitioners took only about a few minutes except petitioner O Joy and respondent MLA L Jatra Singh, the sources added. Interestingly, no arrangement for press coverage of the proceedings of the hearing was made. When contacted the Speaker Dhananjoy Singh declined to say anything regarding the announcement of the judgement, saying that the matter will be kept reserved for a few more days. Both ruling MLAs and Opposition MLAs were eagerly waiting for the verdict of the Speaker till filling of this report.