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Journalism of Courage
The raging legislature-judiciary row in Manipur, over a summons served on CM O. Ibobi Singh, today showed signs of subsiding with Assembly Speaker T.N. Haokip hinting that the House may keep its retaliatory privilege notices against the two judges concerned in abeyance.
‘‘The crisis has subsided and both sides are heading for a reconciliation,’’ Haokip and the Chief Minister said today, blaming the standoff on ‘‘misunderstanding’’ between the Imphal bench of the Gauhati High Court, which issued the summons asking the CM to personally appear before it and the legislature.
Ibobi, however, admitted that the crisis was not over yet. ‘‘It will cool down gradually. It will take some time. I think we will have to adopt some give and take attitude,’’ he said.
Haokip termed the court action as ‘‘human error’’ and hoped the issue would be resolved soon. He has constituted a committee, comprising ruling and Opposition MLAs and the state Advocate General, that would suggest measures to close the ‘‘unfortunate chapter’’.
‘‘It was unfortunate that judges interfered with the Assembly’s working. The House in its collective wisdom considers it an act of contempt and the privilege committee has decided to serve a show cause notice to the judges,’’ he said.
But their conciliatory statements gave enough indication that the notices would be kept in abeyance. However, proceedings at the high court remained suspended even today.
The government had last night restored security cover to the court and lifted the curfew slapped in and around the court premises after Justice B.B. Deb stayed the summons against the CM following a petition filed by fellow judge N. Surjamani Singh. Justice Deb also quashed a privilege committee order asking Justice Singh from appearing before it, inviting the Assembly’s wrath.
