Conclude disqualification proceedings within six weeks: HC to NLA Speaker

Dimapur, June 3 (MExN): The Kohima Bench, Gauhati High Court on June 2 directed the Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly, to conclude the disqualification proceedings against the seven NPF MLAs and pass appropriate orders within 6 weeks.


The Court also directed the petitioners as well as the respondents to appear before the Speaker either in person or through their authorized representatives on June 8 to receive further instructions to enable the Speaker to conclude the proceeding within the specific period of time allotted by the Court.


The matter pertains to the disqualification petition filed by the Naga People’s Front (NPF) on April 2019 against 7 of its MLAs namely EE Pangteang, Eshak Konyak, Kejong Chang, BS Nganglang, Toyang Chang, Thongwang Konyak and CL John.


The NPF had filed the petition against the seven MLAs for “willfully defying the party’s collective decision to support the Congress party in the last Parliamentary Election 2019 to the lone Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency.” It argued that “By openly going against the party’s decision amounts to voluntarily giving up the membership of the party.”


The order noted that “substantial progress has already been made in the adjudicatory process of the Disqualification Petitions by the Speaker leading to framing of issues as far back as on March 21, 2020.” It however also observed that since then “no further progress have been made in the proceeding,” and therefore directed the Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly to conclude the disqualification proceedings in the time allotted.


The NPF meanwhile expressed hope that the Speaker will “use his good office in adjudicating the matter without any further delay and with fairness.”