DIMAPUR, JUNE 14 (MExN): The NPF Central on Tuesday expressed concern over what it termed as the Congress party trying to “supersede the honourable courts of law in the land and define justice according to its whims and convenience.”
The NPF Central was referring to the statement made by the District Congress Committee (DCC), Peren president to Judicial Magistrate First Class (JFMC), Peren on the educational qualification case of Chief Minister, TR Zeliang wherein he had mentioned that to date, “no justice has been delivered even after a lapse of almost six months of filing the complaint.”
At the same time, it also termed as “most galling” the disrespect shown to the Judicial Magistrate by the DCC Peren, and the author of the press statement, “threatening the Honourable Magistrate that petitioner would take the matter up with the Supreme Court if justice is not delivered to the people in due time.”
In a rejoinder, the NPF Central questioned, “How could the petitioner or the Congress party predict, or assume, that the ruling of the Magistrate would not be in accordance to what they want? At least, shouldn’t opportunity be given to the Magistrate to apply his mind on the matter? How could anyone threaten the Magistrate with consequences as made by the petitioner and the Congress party?”
It also said the instant case is a personal matter of the Chief Minister and the NPF party has very little to do with it since it has been decided to let the legal matter follow a legal course till it reaches a logical conclusion. However, considering that a “political party and certain politically vested interest are hell-bent to sway public opinion even when the matter is subjudice,” the NPF Central said it now considers the whole issue as ultra vires having political implications which does not auger well for the independent functioning of the Judiciary.
Also reminding that the High Court had earlier dismissed the petition filed by the DCC Peren, the NPF Central maintained, “By all logic, the DCC Peren has therefore no moral or legal right to interfere in the Court proceedings like he did on Tuesday with dozens of Congress workers in the Judicial Magistrate’s Court premises at Peren.”
“He should have remained a silent spectator instead of issuing press statements a day prior to the Court hearing which amounts to trial by media, and which grossly undermines the independence of the judiciary,” the press statement added.
