In a plea for the expeditious trial and disposal of pending election petitions in the Manipur High Court, veterian politician O Joy has submitted a request to the Union Minister of Law and Justice and the Chief Justice of India.
The request emphasises the urgent need to fill the vacancies of the two judges in the Manipur HC, including the post of chief justice, which have remained unfilled since February 2023.
Citing the recommendation made by the Supreme Court collegium on July 5, for the appointment of Justice Siddharth Mridul as the chief justice of the HC, Joy commended the decision as being in the interest of justice and the expeditious disposal of election petitions and other cases pending before the High Court.
The Supreme Court recommendation has been enclosed with the plea for reference.
The plea also highlights the concerning backlog of cases in the HC, with 36 election petitions and 5,519 other cases awaiting resolution.
Despite provisions under Section 86 (7) of the Representation of the People Act 1951 and the Supreme Court's directive for time-bound disposal of election petitions, progress in the trials has been unsatisfactory, the plea mentioned.
It also pointed out that pending election petitions in the HC currently represent the highest record of such cases in the country's judicial history.
To address this issue, Joy urges the Union Minister of Law and Justice to swiftly fulfill all procedural formalities for the appointment of Justice Siddharth Mridul as the chief justice of the HC. Additionally, he draws attention to the pending appointment of another Judge in the HC since January 2023, calling for prompt action in this regard to ensure the timely delivery of justice.
In conclusion, Joy appeals to both the Union Minister of Law and Justice and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India to take immediate steps towards the expeditious trial and disposal of all pending Election Petitions in the interest of justice.
Copies of the plea was also forwarded to the chairman of the Bar Council of Manipur, the president of HC Bar Association Manipur and the registrar general of Manipur HC.
