Writ against Speaker's ruling to be heard in HC today

IMPHAL, January 3: The writ appeal filed by the chief minister Wahengbam Nipamacha against Assembly Speaker S Dhananjoy's rejection of the no-confidence motion filed against him by the United Front MIAs will come up for final hearing in the principal bench of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench tomorrow. In addition, a division bench of the same court will be hearing a writ appeal from the side of the Speaker against the anticipatory protection granted to MLAs Md Allauddin and Onjamang Haokip from disqualification by an order of the court on December 21 last. It may be mentioned that a single bench of the Gauhati High Court, principal seat, consisting or Justice AK Patnaik had granted anticipatory protection foe 15 days to the two MLAs from any disqualification order passed by the Speaker. The court had also allowed full voting rights to the two MLAs during the period. A writ appeal filed by the Speaker against this ruling has been admitted, and it will be heard by a division bench of the court consisting of acting Chief Justice NC Jain and Justice Aggarwal tomorrow. The same division bench will also hold the final hearing of the chief minister's writ appeal against the Speaker's rejection of the no confidence motion raised against him by the United Front legislators tomorrow. It may be mentioned that Justice AK Patnaik had on December 21 last declined to pass an interim order against the Speaker's decision as prayed for in a writ petition filed by the chief minister. In the meantime, Opposition spokesman O Joy Singh told IFP that the Gauhati High Court's recent orders staying the disqualification of horticulture minister Thangminlien Kipgen would be challenged in the Supreme Court.