KONTHOUJAM GOVINDAS Vs. HONOURABLE SPEAKER MANIPUR LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. N. Ibotombi, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner and Mr. S.G.Hasnain, learned senior counsel for the petitioner; Mr. H.S.Paonam, learned senior counsel for respondent No. 3 and Mr. Kh. Tarunkumar, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 1 and 2 in all the cases.

(2.) Mr. H.S.Paonam, learned senior counsel submits that he would be entering appearance on behalf of respondent No. 3 in Writ Petition being W.P.(C) No. 220/2020, 221/2020, 222/2020, 223/2020 during the course of the day. In respect of Writ Petition being W.P.(C) No. 224/2020, 225/2020, 226/2020 he would be filing vakalatnama by Monday. He prays that he may be granted 3(three) weeks time for filing counter affidavit. Mr. Kh. Tarunkumar, learned counsel submits that he has instruction to file vakalatnama on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 and 2 in all the cases. He also prays for 3(three) weeks time for filing counter affidavit. The prayers made by Mr. H.S.Paonam and Mr. Kh. Tarunkumar appearing for the respondents have been objected to by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner on the ground that the respondents are buying time so that the Election of the Rajya Sabha can be held. It has been further submitted by both the counsels for the petitioner that since the time period for disposal of the disqualification petition pending before the Speaker has been prescribed by the Honble Supreme Court, the Speaker ought to have disposed of the said petitions within the time prescribed by the Honble Supreme Court counting the same, atleast, from the date on which judgment and order was delivered by the Honble Supreme Court. They have drawn the attention of this Court to the facts as regards the similar objection on maintainability of the petition in Shyamkumars case having been decided by the Speaker and that there is no point of keeping the petition pending for deciding such preliminary objections only.

(3.) Be that as it may and in the interest of justice, this Court is of the view that having considered the submissions made by the learned counsels appearing for the parties, some time can be granted to the respondents for filing counter affidavit.