Nagaland: Speaker to decide on fate of 7 MLAs on Tuesday

Kohima, July 13 (MExN): The pronouncement of judgment in the disqualification proceedings against the seven Naga People’s Front (NPF) MLAs will be held on July 14, 1:00 pm, at the Conference Hall, Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

In this regard, NLA Commissioner and Secretary, Dr PJ Antony, issued a notice to the petitioners and respondents informing the same. However, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance will be restricted to the minimum as on the day of the final hearing, it stated.

It may be mentioned that the Kohima Bench, Gauhati High Court, on June 2 directed the NLA Speaker, to conclude the disqualification proceedings and pass appropriate orders within a period of 6 weeks.

The matter pertains to the disqualification petition filed by the 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 filled the disqualification 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.”