The High Court of Manipur on Friday suspended the June 19 order passed by the Speaker’s Tribunal that disqualified Thanga MLA T Robindro.
The interim order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice Lanusungkum Jamir and Justice A Bimol in response to a writ petition (c) filed by T Robindro challenging his disqualification from being a member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
“On perusal of the records, we are prima facie convinced at this stage that an interim order is called for. Accordingly, the order (dated 18/6/2020) passed by the learned Speaker’s Tribunal in disqualification case no.1 of 2020 shall remain suspended till the next date”, said the HC order.
The HC has fixed July 20 for the next hearing.
During the hearing of the case, the division bench heard the submission of the counsel of the petitioner as well as solicitor general of the Speaker and another respondent on the prayer for interim relief. The court also asked to serve a notice on respondent No 3 (BJP MLA Satyabrata) by dasti service within one week and thereafter, the petitioner will file affidavits to that effect.
Moreover, after having examined the case record of the disqualification case, the court has allowed the respondents to file counter affidavit.
Robindro was elected as MLA from Thanga Assembly Constituency from Trinamool Congress. Later, he joined the BJP after dissolving of the state unit of the party.
He, however, left the BJP on June 17 and declared his support to the Congress party. Following this event, MLA Th Satyabrata filed a petition at the Speaker’s Tribunal seeking disqualification of Robindro and he was disqualified on June 18.
In Friday’s hearing, the High Court also took up the matter of Congress MLAs petitions filed for the disqualification of the remaining three MLAs who have not been disqualified by the speaker.
