Kohima, May 27 (MExN): Continuing the flurry of rejoinders over the transfer of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Peren, the Legal Cell of NPF today responded to the NPCC stating that the meeting between the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and the Chief Minister of Nagaland took place on March 21 at his residential office and not on March 22 as alleged by P Ayang Aonok, NPCC Working President.
The Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court did not come alone to meet the Chief Minister, stated a rejoinder issued by Achumbemo Kikon, Convenor, Legal Cell, NPF. The Chief Justice, according to the rejoinder, was accompanied by two Justices of the Gauhati High Court, Parliamentary Secretary Justice & Law Nagaland, Chief Secretary Nagaland, Principal Secretary to CM & Finance Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Justice & Law Govt. of Nagaland, Registrar General, Gauhati High Court, Secretary Justice & Law, Govt. of Nagaland, Registrar-cum-Principal Secretary, Gauhati High Court, Guwahati, and Registrar, Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench.
Stating that the meeting took place in full view of the above mentioned officials, the NPF Legal said, NPCC Working President may cross check from the officials whether the Chief Minister had ever raised or mentioned the issue of transfer between JMFC Peren and Phek. The matter discussed in the said meeting was all about establishment of Separate High Court for Nagaland, Construction of multi-purpose Complex-cum-Guest House for the Judges in Kohima and Sufficient budgetary allocation for the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court, the rejoinder added.
It further stated that if NPCC Working President is really interested to prevent the cross transfer between JMFC Peren and Phek, he should seek the intervention of the court of law rather than questioning the authority of the Gauhati High Court through local media. The NPF Legal Cell further expressed astonishment as to why Aonok is taking so much interest on the particular issue when the matter is still pending in the court.
“Whether it is NPF or Congress we all function as a recognised political party registered under the Election Commission of India (ECI) and hence it is incumbent upon each and every member of the political party to respect the rule of Law,” it added. “Therefore it is not appropriate on the part of the Congress Working President to doubt the Judiciary and maligning the office of the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.”
