SC issues notice over disqualification of Manipur secretaries

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Aniruddha Bose issued notice on a petition contending that a representation has already been sent by the Manipur Governor to the Election Commission regarding the disqualification of 12 Parliament Secretaries, but the poll body has failed to take any decision on the matter.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a petition which sought directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to give its opinion on proposed disqualification of 12 Parliamentary Secretaries from Manipur.

The bench comprising of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Aniruddha Bose was hearing the petition which contended that a representation has already been sent by the governor to the ECI but the latter has failed to take any decision as of yet due to which the top court had to be approached for the directions.

As per the petitioner, representation was made to the Governor by some MLAs who sought disqualification of 12 parliamentary secretaries appointed in Manipur on the basis of office of profit.

Earlier, the Manipur High Court had ordered the disqualification of 12 secretaries in connection with the office of profit case.

According to reports, following the swearing-in of the coalition government led by N Biren in March, 2017, eight BJP MLAs, three NPF MLAs and one independent MLA were sworn in as parliamentary secretaries.

Read:Manipur HC sets aside MLA s election for non-disclosure of info in poll affidavit